Media News - Monday, May 19, 2008

Google maps could cross EU privacy laws

Global search engine colossus Google has been warned by the EU data protection chief that the ‘Street View’ feature on its Google Maps service could run up against European privacy laws if it launches in EU countries. Street View allows users of Google's online map service to have a full-colour, 360-degree look around city streets. Users can digitally walk up and down the virtual street, which is built from composites of photographs taken by roaming Google cars with roof-mounted cameras. Peter Hustinx, the EU data protection supervisor, told reporters while presenting his annual data protection report on Thursday that if Google launched such a feature in Europe, the company would first have to comply with European privacy legislation, which in many member states is stricter than in the United States. The company has not launched the service in Europe yet, although it has announced plans to do so next year, and Google cars snapping away photos of the vias and rues of Rome and Paris have already been spotted. The company responded to the EU official's concerns by saying it is perfecting face-blurring technology. (EU Observer via Business Week)

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