HARTFORD, Connecticut (AP) — Google representatives on Monday said the search engine company has not broken any laws with the collection of data for its mapping service, after Connecticut's attorney general pressed the company to "come clean with the American public".

Authorities fear the information gathered for Google's Street View service, which provides pictures of neighbourhoods, may violate privacy laws.

Last month, Google acknowledged it had mistakenly collected data over public Wi-Fi networks in more than 30 countries.

Police in Germany and Australia already have launched their own investigations into the matter.

"As we have said before, this was a mistake," said a Google spokeswoman in an e-mail statement to the Associated Press. "Google did nothing illegal and we are working with the relevant authorities to answer their questions and concerns."

The attorneys general of Connecticut and Missouri have both sent letters to Google executives asking for clarification on the information collected for Street View.