Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Search engine giant Google could face a multitude of lawsuits after the U.S. Supreme Court Monday refused to hear its appeal about allegedly violating the U.S. Wiretap Act in regards to its Street View mapping.
Google was accused of violating the wiretap law after emails, passwords and other data from unencrypted in-home Wi-Fi networks were inadvertently scooped up during the mapping.
In 2013, the company agreed to pay a $7 million fine for collecting personal data in 38 states and the District of Columbia.
Although Google promised to destroy the information it collected and promised to educate people on securing wireless networks, it filed an appeal, asking for an exemption from the Wiretap Act.
However, the high court’s rejection of the appeal lets stand a lower court ruling that protects privacy, meaning Google can be sued over the matter.
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