Google close to a deal on privacy breach

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LOS ANGELES, March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Internet giant Google is finalizing details for a $7 million settlement over an inadvertent breach of privacy, a source told the Los Angeles Times.

The settlement, which will be split among more than 30 states, is meant to resolve charges that Google violated privacy laws when it sent cars to neighborhoods to create its Street View mapping service.

Inadvertently, Google said, it ended up collecting passwords and other personal information from unsecured wireless networks, the Times reported Saturday.

The Federal Communications Commission levied a fine of $25,000 for the breach of privacy that took place in more than 30 countries. But the FCC choose not to pursue Google for breaking wiretapping laws.

In a statement, Google said: "We work hard to get privacy right at Google. But in this case we didn't, which is why we quickly tightened up our systems to address the issue."