Street View gets the all-clear

 

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Posted on 23 Apr 2009 at 16:02

Calls to shut down Google's Street View service have fallen on deaf ears as the UK's privacy watchdog has ruled that the service the does not contravene the Data Protection Act. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said "common sense must prevail", in its response to a complaint by Privacy International (PI).

Street View lets you view and navigate virtually through the streets of 25 cities in the UK, using 360 degree street-level imagery. Google has blurred faces and number plates in its images, and has taken down photos when requested to by users. However, PI accused Google of causing "embarrassment" to the British public when it emerged that Street View used images of a man walking out of a sex shop and another being sick outside a pub. It requested that the tool be made unavailable.

The ICO had already stated that it was "satisfied that Google is putting in place adequate safeguards" to maintain the privacy of individuals, but agreed to investigate PI's complaint. It has now concluded that taking down Street View would not be pragmatic.

"Watch the TV news any day this week and you will see people walking past reporters in the street," said David Evans, the ICO's senior data protection practice manager. "Some football fans' faces will be captured on Match of the Day and local news programmes this weekend - without their consent, but perfectly legally. In the same way there is no law against anyone taking pictures of people in the street as long as the person using the camera is not harassing people."

He added that Google Street View does not contravene the Data Protection Act and it is not in the public interest to "turn the digital clock back".

"In a world where many people 'tweet', [use] Facebook and blog it is important to take a common sense approach towards Street View and the relatively limited privacy intrusion it may cause," Evans added.

Author: Dawinderpal Sahota