In a recently released opinion, the Ninth Circuit decided that Google was not entitled to the protection under the Wiretap Exemption of the Wiretap Act.
When collecting the pictures and other data necessary for Google Street View, Google collected data from open home and business wifi accounts. Google tried to hide behind the Wiretap Act, but the District Court and Ninth Circuit disagreed, finding that home and wireless networks were not “readily accessible to the public.”