Google’s Street View data collection methodology is again in the hot seat, after it was suggested that the White House might have some close relations with the giant search engine. The National Legal and Policy Center disagrees with Federal Trade Commission’s decision of ending the scandal.

The ties between Google and the Obama administration are sustained also by the alleged participation of Andrew McLaughlin, a former Google employee who now works in the public sector, in quality of Democratic assignee at a fundraising event organized by Marissa Mayer – Google’s executive. They reportedly stressed that “the FTC’s decision to close its investigation into Google’s unauthorized gathering of private data through its Google Street View program is troubling enough. But looked at in the context of this administration’s extraordinarily close relationship with Google, no fair-minded person could look at the record so far and not believe that further investigation is warranted.”

NLPC’s deputy Joe Barton made obvious their position last week, when he declared C-SPAN that Google’s Street View privacy is intended to be investigated more if he would be in the chairman position at House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Although FTC closed the Google Street View collecting data method – this issue is still debated in Europe.  They have been investigated by the UK, Germany, Spain and many other states in U.S.

In other Google news, it should be mentioned they recently took proactive measures for their employees, who will get a salary increase of 10% and a $1000 bonus, reports USA Today. This appreciation measure towards their employers was celebrated with a message, saying, “Googlers, you are what makes this company great, and our goal here is to recognize you for your contribution, in a way that’s meaningful to you. Thank you for all that you do, and for making Google a place where magic happens.”

Also in the giving spirit, we have free wifi on airlines, and previews in Instant Search. Google has recently presented a new update version for the Instant Search tool, bringing more concentrated information in the results page,  offering a sneak peek at individual results.

Two days ago, Google announced their partnership with a few airline companies: AirTran, Delta and Virgin America in the development of a new service that Google Chrome browser contains. The feature will provide free WiFi via Gogo In-flight Internet access in the companies’ planes.