Sussex father quizzed over Google privacy row
12:20pm Tuesday 29th May 2012
A Sussex father-of-three has been quizzed by US investigators as part of a Google privacy row.
Former Lancing College pupil Marius Milner was named by the New York Times as an anonymous Google employee who wrote the computer code that allowed personal data to be intercepted by the internet giant’s Street View cars.
Mr Milner, whose father lives in Shoreham, hit headlines across the world because of fresh controversy about software that allowed emails and other WiFi data to be intercepted by Google’s Street View cars.
He used his rights under the fifth amendment of the US Constitution to refuse to answer FCC questions during its investigations.
The Street View project was an ambitious plan to photograph the world’s streets but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that code to collect unencrypted data sent from homes by computers, including emails, was also installed.
The Street View vehicles have recently been spotted again on Sussex streets, leading to speculation that the internet giant is updating its photographs of the county.
Now the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it could take further action against the company once it has studied a report by its American counterpart, the Federal Communications Commission.
Google admitted two years ago some data had been taken but said it was a “mistake”.
From his home in Shoreham Mr Milner’s father Gerald, 85, described his “bright” son, who now lives in the US with his wife, Liz Meldrum.
He said: “At school he came top in everything. He was always interested in technology and was quite a serious child.”
An ICO spokeswoman said yesterday: “Google Inc provided us with a formal undertaking about their future conduct in November 2010, following their failure in relation to the collection of WiFi data by their Street View cars.
“This included a provision for the ICO to audit their privacy practices. The results of the audit were published in August 2011, and there will be a formal follow-up process within the next couple of months to ensure our recommendations have been put in place. All personal data unlawfully collected by Google has been destroyed. We are currently studying the FCC’s report and will consider what further action, if any, needs to be taken.”
Source: www.theargus.co.uk
Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright defends IPL spell - BBC News
Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright has defended his decision to play in the Indian Premier League.
The 27-year-old only made one appearance for the Pune Warriors, missing Sussex's first five County Championship fixtures.
He told BBC Sussex: "In an ideal world I wouldn't be missing county cricket but that's just the way it is.
"It's an opportunity that few cricketers would turn away and I hope I get another chance to do it."
He added: "It was a decision to make and Sussex understand it."
Wright's participation in the tournament was curtailed by a virus, but he believes he has benefited from his time in Asia.
"It's an experience I really enjoyed," he continued.
"You're playing with some of the best players from around the world and get different ideas of how they do things in their countries.
"You also get an idea of playing somewhere like the sub-continent, where we're notoriously not amazing at playing.
"The fever hit me pretty hard. Hopefully without my illness, another time I might get a chance to play some more games."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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