Google Fined Over Street View Privacy Breach

Google received its first ever fine for improperly gathering and storing data for its Street View application on Monday when it was penalized by France's privacy watchdog. The euro100,000 ($141,300) penalty — the largest ever by French body CNIL — sanctions Google for collecting personal data from Wi-Fi networks — including e-mails, web browsing histories and online banking details — from 2007 to 2010 through its roaming camera-mounted cars and bicycles. The fine is the first against Google over the data-gathering, which more than 30 countries have complained about. At least two other European countries are considering fines, while some others have ruled against penalizing Google.

Google's 3D Version of London, Royal Wedding Route

On royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on April 29 in London, U.K. all media will capture the imagination of a global audience. Google also took part in it by capturing 3D imagery of central London’s buildings and trees in Google Earth—including the entire royal procession route.

Smarter Than You Think - Google Cars Drive Themselves, in Traffic

At the TED 2011 conference this week, Google has been giving extremely rare demos of its self-driving cars. TED attendees have even been allowed to travel inside them, on a closed course. The car is a project of Google, which has been working in secret but in plain view on vehicles that can drive themselves, using artificial-intelligence software that can sense anything near the car and mimic the decisions made by a human driver.

Google's 'Person Finder' App Can Help Locate Christchurch Earthquake Victims

The Christchurch person finder site allows those looking for friends and relatives to search for their name, while those who have information about someone can add them to the database. Currently the site has around 3,600 records - many of them simple confirmations that the person is alive, from acquaintances who have spoken to them on the phone or through Facebook.