News: Germany Expresses Concern over Apple's iPhone users Database

From Privacy Digest: The German minister of justice, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, has spoken out over Apple's compilation of data on iPhone users, requesting the company to provide state data protection officials with details of what information on German iPhone users was being gathered, how long it was being stored, and for what purpose.

The case is being cited as further proof of Germany's tough line on privacy after previous tensions with Google Street View this year. However, a speedy resolution seems likely:

Stefan Köpsell, an instructor in data protection at the Technical University in Dresden, said that Apple could probably settle the controversy surrounding the iPhone 4 by having German users give their consent prior to the data being forwarded.

“I think there is probably a fundamental conflict between some Internet business models and German privacy law,” Mr. Köpsell said. “But in general, evidence shows that most Germans are willing to participate if there’s a benefit.” For example, 60 percent of households in Germany use a retail bonus card called Payback, owned by Loyalty Partner of Munich, which gives them points that can be used toward future purchases. By participating, consumers have given the company the right to collect and market data on their purchasing habits, as well as target them with advertising. “I would think the same would be possible for Apple,” Mr. Köpsell said.

News: More European Anger at Google Invasions of Privacy

From Privacy Digest: Google have admitted gathering private data on internet use in the course of the taking photographs for the Google Street View programme.

Google acknowledged on Friday that it had collected snippets of private data around the world. In a blog post on its Web site, the company said information had been recorded as it was sent over unencrypted residential wireless networks as Google’s Street View cars with mounted recording equipment passed by.

The data collection, which Google said was inadvertent and the result of a programming error, took place in all the countries where Street View has been catalogued, including the United States and parts of Europe. Google apologized and said it had not used the information, which it plans to delete in conjunction with regulators.

The Register reports that both Germany prosecutors and the Czech Republic data protection agency have launched investigations:

In effect, Mountain View may have hoovered up emails and other private information if the Google cars travelled over Wi-Fi networks while one of its vehicles was in range. The firm had previously claimed that no payload data was ever intercepted.

Hamburg prosecutors said they had received a complaint against unnamed Google workers over the “unauthorised interception of data”, and confirmed that an investigation - that could take about a fortnight to determine if the allegations warrant a full-blown probe - was underway.