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Google's Street View to Respect Privacy Laws

Company promises method to remove I.D. related images

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:29 PM CDT

(Newser) – Google allayed some fears yesterday, announcing that its Street View application, which provides street-level images of certain cities, would respect each country’s privacy laws. “In the U.S., there's a long and noble tradition of 'public spaces,' where people don't have the same expectations of privacy as they do in their homes,” a Google lawyer wrote on a company blog. Other countries, however, differ.

Already, people can contact Google to request the removal of their images, ComputerWorld reports, but Google is prepared to ensure faces and license plates don’t show up in certain countries. “There's an important… debate in every country around what privacy means in public spaces,” the Google lawyer wrote. “That balance will vary from country to country, and Street View will respect it.”

Kevin Bankston poses between downtown office buildings in San Francisco, Friday, June 1, 2007. Google Inc. bills the latest twist on its online maps as "Street View," but it looks a bit like "Candid Camera"... (Associated Press)

Google sign inside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., May 30, 2007. Google Inc. bills the latest twist on its online maps as "Street View," but it looks a bit like "Candid Camera" as you cruise... (Associated Press)

Kevin Bankston walks in downtown San Francisco, Friday, June 1, 2007. Google Inc. bills the latest twist on its online maps as "Street View," but it looks a bit like "Candid Camera" as you cruise through... (Associated Press)

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Google's Street View to Respect Privacy Laws

Company promises method to remove I.D. related images

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