In March 2013, Google agreed to pay a $7-million fine for collecting personal data from millions of unsecured wireless networks while operating its Street View fleet. The fine settled an investigation of the data collection by 38 states and the District of Columbia.



As part of that agreement, Google promised to educate employees about the privacy of consumer data and sponsor a public service campaign to teach people how to secure their wireless networks. Google also agreed to destroy the data it collected.



Google said its executives were not aware the Street View vehicles were collecting other data, Connecticut Atty. Gen. George Jepsen said in a statement at the time.



The information included emails, passwords, Web history, text messages and other confidential details. Google disabled or removed the equipment and software used to collect the data, Jepsen said.