Swiss Challenge Google Over Streetview Privacy

Google Streetview is an amazing resource that can be extremely useful. Many people welcome the arrival of the Streetview cars and their cameras.

Others have serious concerns over the privacy implications. Despite Google’s attempts at facial blurring, other cues such as clothing can make some people easily recognisable. And some vehicles are easily recognised even with the number plate blurred.

It seems that Switzerland agrees with these privacy concerns. Swiss Data Protection and Information Commissioner, Hanspeter Thuer, plans to take Google to court over Streetview.

Thuer believes that Google’s face blurring is inadequate to guarantee anonymity. He also argues that the use of high mounted cameras means that “people see more on Street View than can been seen by a normal passer-by in the street”.

Google has responded to the Swiss action saying that it’s proud of the its face blurring technology and confident that Street View is “completely legal”.

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