Google Street View Raises Privacy Worries Everywhere
To continue its project to digitize public views in cities around the world, Google has been increasing its efforts to respect local privacy laws.
An earlier E-TIPS® article reported that the Privacy Commissioner of Canada expressed concern over the Google Street View service (see Privacy Concerns Raised About Google Street View, September 26th, 2007, Volume 6 Number 7). In response, Google agreed to blur faces and license plate numbers in images taken in Canadian cities.
German authorities in Hamburg required Google to submit a written guarantee that it would comply with German data privacy laws. German authorities are currently in discussions with Google regarding data containing raw, un-blurred images; the authorities would like Google to delete such data, but Google insists that it requires the data to improve its blurring technology.
Because of the nature of Japanese streets, the cameras in Japan were filming over the fences of residences but, after complaints from residents, Google has now announced that it will re-shoot the images using lower camera mounts.
In Greece, Google has been prohibited from taking images for Street View until Greek authorities obtained further information addressing privacy concerns.
Interestingly, in contrast to these official protests, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a press release indicating that Google Street View did not breach the Data Protection Act. In the press release, the ICO also stated that in “a world where many people tweet, facebook and blog it is important to take a common sense approach towards Street View and the relatively limited privacy intrusion it may cause.”
For more information on Street View in Germany, see:
Regarding the same issue in Japan, see:
And for Greece, visit:
For the UK ICO’s press release, see:
Summary by: Cheryl Cheung
