More Google Street View controversy
Google Street View, the search giant’s street level photographic mapping service has come in for more criticism in the UK.
UK campaign group Privacy International are concerned that it will break data protection laws; despite Google’s efforts to protect personal privacy.
There are fears that as Google’s specially equipped vehicles capture images of UK streets, they will also record the faces of passers-by, potentially infringing their rights to privacy.
Despite Google’s assurances that personal images will be removed on request and that automatic face blurring technology will be used to detect and obscure faces, several rights groups are not convinced.
“In our view they need a person’s consent if they make use of a person’s face for commercial ends,” said Simon Davis of Privacy International.
The group has now written to Google requesting details of its proposed face blurring algorithm and has threatened to ask the Information Commissioner to suspend any UK service unless they receive a satisfactory reply within 7 days.
“We’ve spoken to Google in the past about this and received a snide response telling us to look more closely at their blogs [and] that the technology is not ready to be deployed.”
Although Street View has caused controversy in the United States, the practice of photographing people in American cities without express consent is legal; unlike in Europe where privacy laws are more stringent.
“It’s time for the company to take responsibility for its actions and to do the right thing.” added Davis.
In turn, Google has responded by saying that it complies fully with local laws in all of the markets in which it operates.
Google Street View has yet to launch in the UK, though continues its roll-out across the United States, Australia, France and Italy.
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