Privacy watchdogs have strongly criticised Google's new Latitude
software, which pinpoints the location of mobile phone users
anywhere in the world.
Touted as a means for friends and family to stay in touch,
Latitude could easily be abused by as a way of spying on people and
keeping track of their movements.
Latitude is available in 27 countries and will work with most
mobile phones, according to Google.
The internet company has defended the move saying users will
have to sign up for the service and can decide what information to
allow contacts to see.
Only the most recent location is given if that is what the user
has allowed, and none of the information is stored to create
virtual trails, said Google.
The UK Information Commissioner's Office, said users should be
informed about how their information will be used, and the ICO will
be monitoring Latitude closely.
Authorities in Italy this week began
prosecuting Google employees for privacy breaches on charges of
defamation and failure to exercise control over personal data.
The charges follow a two-year investigation by Italian
authorities into a three-minute video posted to Google's Italian
website in which four teenagers make fun of a disabled
classmate.