UK Privacy Cops Won't Block Google Street View

Privacy groups overruled in favor of technology
By Ambreen Ali,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 23, 2009 10:20 AM CDT
UK Privacy Cops Won't Block Google Street View
An undated file photo made available by Google shows one of its street mapping cars.   (Google)

Google Street View can keep capturing everyday British embarrassments, the nation’s information commission says, rejecting privacy groups that hoped the tech giant would be stopped. The agency ruled such a drastic step “disproportionate to the relatively small risk of privacy detriment.” British law allows filming from public streets, and Google has offered to remove images by request, reports the BBC.

“In a world where many people Tweet, Facebook and blog, it is important to take a commonsense approach towards Street View and the relatively limited privacy intrusion it may cause,” says an official. But much is at risk, warns a privacy proponent: “It’s possible someone could find themselves being unfairly divorced because an innocent image could be interpreted wrongly.” (More Google stories.)

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