CyberLaw Blog
A news resource for CyberLaw and Cyber-Rights issues from around the globe
Swiss roll Street View into court
Monday, November 16th, 2009Swiss roll Street View into court: “
Data protection supremo’s patience runs out
Switzerland’s head of federal data protection has announced that he’s taking Google to court after the search monolith refused to comply with several privacy requests regarding its Swiss Street View service.…
“
(Via The Register – Public Sector.)
Swiss privacy watchdog demands withdrawal of Swiss Street View
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009Swiss privacy watchdog demands withdrawal of Swiss Street View: “The Swiss privacy watchdog has told Google to take down its Street View service because it violates Swiss privacy law. Google has said it is ’surprised’ at the request.”
(Via OUT-LAW News.)
British MP David Davis, Google, and Setting the Record Straight
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009British MP David Davis, Google, and Setting the Record Straight: “We were surprised and disappointed to open the Times newspaper today and find a vitriolic column on Google and our record on privacy, from Conservative Member of Parliament David Davis. Responding to speculation in the Times several weeks ago that the Conservative party was in favour of giving patients the ability to transfer their medical records to private companies, Mr Davis decided to launch an extraordinary attack on Google, riddled with misleading statements. Of course, Mr Davis didn’t ask us first for our comments or to check his facts before going to press.
Mr Davis’ argument is based on something of a straw man, given that Google Health, our health records product, is only available in the US, and we have no immediate plans to bring it to other countries. But given that he goes on to attack our Street View product as a ‘high-handed’ intrusion on privacy, assert that we do not respect European privacy law, argue we have entered into ‘an amoral deal with China,’ and attribute our economic success to ‘legally unfettered use of personal data’, we wanted to set the record straight.
Allegation: Google is ‘hostile to privacy.’
We were the first company in our industry to anonymise information when people conduct searches. We took the US government to court when we were asked to hand over large amounts of data to them. Like all of our products, Street View was built from the ground up to respect user privacy. The imagery is not real time. We automatically blur faces and vehicle number plates, and we make it easy for people with concerns to have their homes removed from Street View if they wish. In the months since Street View launched in the UK, tens of millions of people have found it a useful and interesting tool, whether for exploring a tourist destination, finding a restaurant or checking driving directions.
Allegation: Google claims that European privacy legislation ‘does not apply to it.’
For a company that supposedly ignores European laws, we did not launch Google Street View in the UK until we had the green light from the Information Commissioner! ‘Google Street View does not contravene the Data Protection Act,’ said David Evans, the Commissioner’s Senior Data Protection Practice Manager, ‘and, in any case, it is not in the public interest to turn the digital clock back.’
Allegation: Google entered an ‘amoral deal’ with China.
As we said when we launched Google.cn, it wasn’t a step we took lightly, but we felt we were doing it for the right reasons – to bring more information to more people. Where Chinese regulations require us to remove sensitive information from our search results we disclose this to users – which is not standard practice in China.
Allegation: Google makes its money from ‘exploiting its customers’ private data for commercial ends.’
Google makes the vast majority of its revenue by providing users with free services and serving ads targeted to what the user has searched for or has read. This does not involve selling user data or exposing it in any way. When we launched interest based advertising we did so only after putting users in control of the information collected about them, as we make clear in our user FAQ. In addition, we do not use categories defined by European privacy laws as ’sensitive’ such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or health when showing ads.
If managed and used responsibly, the free services Google offers can be of tremendous civic benefit. We’ve developed a tool called ‘Flu Trends’, which offers an early warning system for flu outbreaks based on the anonymous actions of millions of people searching for symptoms. Relief agencies depend on Google Earth images after natural disasters like tsunamis or hurricanes and Indian farmers leverage our topographical maps to help with flood management.
We’re proud of our track record of protecting user privacy. We work hard to make sure our users understand what data we collect and how we use it, because we are committed to transparency and user choice. The important work of education is made more difficult by polemicists who abuse the truth. We are happy to debate our privacy record or policies anytime, but we’d rather that debate was based on fact not fiction.
Peter Fleischer, Google’s Global Privacy Counsel
“
(Via European Public Policy Blog.)
Censored Street Views: Google Bows to German Data Privacy Demands
Friday, June 19th, 2009Censored Street Views: Google Bows to German Data Privacy Demands: “
The dispute between Google and the data protection office in Hamburg over the company’s Street View service has been settled. Google has agreed to erase identifiable raw data depicting people, property or cars upon request.”
Google faces Greek Street View ban
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009Google faces Greek Street View ban: “Greek authorities have barred Google from taking photographs of its streets over fears about the privacy implications of the search giant’s Street View service. The Greek Data Protection Authority (DPA) has requested more information from Google.”
(Via OUT-LAW News.)
Street View nod prompts call for privacy watchdog reform
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009Street View nod prompts call for privacy watchdog reform
ICO under fire
Updated Frustrated by years of alleged intransigence in dealing with complaints about privacy-infringing new technologies, activists have called for politicians to investigate and reform the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).…
(Via The Register – Public Sector.)
Which? News: Google Street View doesn’t invade privacy says ICO
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009Which? News: Google Street View doesn’t invade privacy says ICO
Information Commissioner greenlights Street View
23 April 2009
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ruled that Google’s controversial Street View service does not invade individual’s privacy.
Google’s Street View service – available as part of its Google Maps product – shows street-level photographs of major UK cities. Privacy International filed a complaint about Street View on the basis that the service had caused ‘distress and embarrassment’ to some individuals identified in the Street Level views.
Google Street View ‘common sense’
However, the ICO has issued a statement saying that ‘common sense’ must prevail and ruled that the service does not breach the UK’s Data Protection Act
David Evans, senior data protection practice manager, said: ‘As a regulator we take a pragmatic and common sense approach. Any images of people’s faces or number plates should be blurred. We emphasised the importance of blurring these images to protect people’s privacy and limit privacy intrusion. Google must respond quickly to deletion requests and complaints as it is doing at the moment. We will be watching closely to make sure this continues to be achieved in practice.’
Self-regulation ‘doesn’t work’ claim
Critics, however, say that this type of self-regulatory approach doesn’t work. ‘I’m not happy about leaving this [Street View] to a system of self-regulation. For example, what happens if Google doesn’t remove an image they’re requested to?’ said Yaman Akdeniz, a spokesperson for Cyber-Rights and Cyber-Liberties.
Google, however, says it is pleased with the ICO’s decision: ‘We took care to build privacy considerations into Street View from the outset and have engaged with the ICO throughout the development process. Already millions of British people have benefited from Street View, whether to get driving directions, find local businesses, or explore a tourist destination. We recognise that a small minority of people may not wish their house to be included in the service, which is why we have created easy to use removals tools,’ says a company statement.
Residents in Milton Keynes previously attempted to stop a Google Street car photographing their street.
UK privacy watchdog rejects Street View complaints
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009UK privacy watchdog rejects Street View complaints: “Google’s controversial Street View service was today cleared by the UK
Information Commissioner’s Office of any breach of the Data Protection Act.”
Common sense on Street View must prevail, says the ICO
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009Common sense on Street View must prevail, says the ICO
Date: 23 April 2009
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published new advice on Google
Street View in response to a complaint from Privacy International.
David Evans, Senior Data Protection Practice Manager said: “As a regulator we take
a pragmatic and common sense approach. Any images of people’s faces or number
plates should be blurred. We emphasised the importance of blurring these images to
protect people’s privacy and limit privacy intrusion. Google must respond quickly to
deletion requests and complaints as it is doing at the moment. We will be watching
closely to make sure this continues to be achieved in practice.
“However, it is important to highlight that putting images of people on Google Street
View is very unlikely to formally breach the Data Protection Act. Watch the TV news
any day this week and you will see people walking past reporters in the street. 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. Google Street View does not contravene
the Data Protection Act and, in any case, it is not in the public interest to turn the
digital clock back. In a world where many people tweet, facebook and blog it is
important to take a common sense approach towards Street View and the relatively
limited privacy intrusion it may cause.”
In July 2008 the ICO met with Google to discuss how Street View would be
implemented. The ICO stressed the importance of including a facility for individuals
to report images they were unhappy with and was satisfied that Google was putting
in place adequate safeguards to avoid unwarranted intrusions on people’s privacy.
The ICO has received a number of complaints and enquiries about Google Street
View. These include those from people who are unhappy that their image is on
Street View, those who are unhappy at the prospect of their/anyone else’s image
potentially appearing, as well as those who are positive about the idea. The ICO
receives over 100,000 telephone calls a year, including 25,000 data protection
related complaints.
The ICO has confirmed to Privacy International that the removal of an entire service
of this type would be disproportionate to the relatively small risk of privacy detriment.
The ICO will keep the operation of Street View under review and take steps to
address issues raised by individuals who feel that Google has not removed
problematic images.
Quicklinks RSS- OII - Child Protection and Freedom of Speech Online: Report
- EU - Consultation on future universal service in digital era
- EU - Radio spectrum: public consultation on future policy; 22-23 March Summit
- EU - Commission rules against plans to regulate Internet traffic exchange services in Poland
- FR - Les FAI opposés au blocage des sites pédopornographiques
- The Register RSS