Google has stirred up complaints of invasion of privacy in the
UK after the release of is
Street View facility on Google maps yesterday.
Users can now access
360-degree views of 25 UK
cities, but Google has failed to blur out all people's faces
and car registration plates, with some remaining clearly
visible.
Google collected the data for the pictures last year when cars
drove around UK roads collecting digital images.
The Street View facility has also raised concerns about
security, as many security-related buildings, such as the
headquarters of MI5 can be viewed in detail.
A privacy organisation has said Google should not be exempt from
the rule requiring commercial organisations to get prior consent
before using images of people.
Simon Davies of Privacy International plans to launch a legal
challenge to Google's Street View service based on the need for
prior consent being needed for this service.
"I think there is something of a test case in this. We are
arguing that a line has to be drawn to empower the individual to
make a conscious decision whether to allow his or her images on to
such a system," Davies told law firm Pinsent Masons'
Out-Law.Com.
Struan Robertson, technology lawyer at Pinsent Masons, said
Davies's assessment of the law is flawed because there is no legal
requirement that people's permission should be obtained before a
photo of them is taken in a public place, even if the purpose is a
commercial one.
Robertson said that if circumstances arise in which people
suffer as a consequence of Street View, they can take action under
the UK Data Protection Act.
Google said the blurring technology is not 100% accurate, but
has the support of the Information Commissioner's Office because of
the built-in removal request tool.
"Any user can easily flag images for removal that he or she
considers inappropriate by clicking on "Report a concern", said
Google spokesman Ed Parsons.
The ICO is satisfied that Google is putting in place adequate
safeguards to minimise any risk to the privacy or safety of
individuals, said an ICO spokeman.
"Individuals who have raised concerns with Google about their
image being included and who do not think they have received a
satisfactory response can raise that concern with the ICO," he
said.
In areas where Street View is available, users can view
street-level imagery by zooming into the lowest level on Google
Maps, or by dragging the orange "Pegman" icon on the left-hand side
of the map onto a blue highlighted street.
The feature is aimed at a
variety of uses, such as viewing destinations before travelling
and arranging meeting points.