According to the official reports, Britain's entire wireless network has been mapped by Google's street view car fitted with radio aerials in order to use the database for commercial purposes through its internet search engine.

Every WiFi wireless router, the device that links a computer with the internet, has been entered into a Google database. The information was collected by the street view cars, which have photographed almost every home in the country.

It has been reported that the data is used on Google's maps in order to help users of cell-phones and iphones to access information relevant to the area such as restaurants, cinemas and shops.

The Telegraph has reported that the project had remained secret until an inquiry in Germany earlier this month in which Google was forced to admit that it "mistakenly" downloaded emails and other data from unsecured wireless networks.

Google argued that other companies, including Skyhook Wireless which has a contract with iphone maker Apple, have already mapped the networks.

Google has also said that the information, which lists the networks' MAC (Media Access Control) address and SSID (Service Set-ID) number but not their house number, is publicly available because the wireless signals extend beyond the property in which they are located.

Though Google's work in Britain is already complete, it has suspended the use of street view cars across the world.

It had not notified data protection authorities because "we did not think it was necessary" but it added: "It's clear with hindsight that greater transparency would have been better," Google said last week.

It was further reported that authorities in Britain, the US and other countries have asked Google to retain the downloaded emails pending a full inquiry but it is unclear what its obligations are concerning the WiFi data.

"The ghost of street view continues to haunt Google, said a spokesman for Privacy International. (With Inputs from Agencies)