Also once upon a time people knew what they were talking about before launching into a nonsensical speech filled with privacy cliches.
They are mapping public WiFi APs, public data, it's well within their right and that of other to do so. Offering an opt-out is just going over and beyond to appease the stubbornly misinformed.
You do know Google has a history of having helped themselves to much more data than just public SSIDs, right? The reason I bring these up is to point out that Google's past behavior in this space hasn't exactly fostered trust.
How is a signal generated by something owned by me, located inside my private residence, intended for use inside my house by my family and guests only, considered "publicly broadcast"? Are cordless phone transmissions publicly broadcast? Baby monitors? Burglar alarms? Home automation devices? Bluetooth headsets?
They are mapping public WiFi APs, public data, it's well within their right and that of other to do so. Offering an opt-out is just going over and beyond to appease the stubbornly misinformed.