Report: Settlement in Google Maps Spying Case $7 Million

Google neither confirms nor denies, but will pay a price -- a small one.

The Internet giant and de-facto search engine for much of the world will chip in $7 million to end an investigation into whether Google's mapping cars also collected emails, passwords and other sensitive information sent over wireless networks, according to the Associated Press.

Investigators in 30 states had been digging into Google's data collection, according to the AP. The $7 million will be shared by all of those states.

Google, at $61 billion in annual revenue, takes in $7 million every hour.

The company revealed in 2010 that the "Google cars" driving through every community on Earth, shooting photos for Google Maps, were also collecting data sent over unsecured wireless networks. The company apologized for the breach but denied any "snooping," though the federal Justice Department did see fit to fine the company -- a cool $25,000 -- for delaying the investigation.

Investigators in Connecticut led the charge into the investigation of "Wi-Spy," the AP reported.