Last week we heard that Google was facing an Antitrust inquiry from the EU, now it looks like Google is encountering more issues with the European Union, this time concerning their Street View service.
Currently, Google updates its images taken by its Street View cars and vehicles every twelve months. However, this is about to change as they will now have to delete all images stored in the EU after six months.
This new regulation means that Google will now have to take new photos of all the streets in the EU featured in Street View every six months. This could end up costing Google twice as much as it does now to photograph all the streets. The increased frequency of updates will require more resources, including additional manpower and technological investments, to ensure that the images are current and comply with the new regulations.
Data Protection Concerns
According to the EU, Google’s Street View service continues to give rise to data protection issues. The primary concern is the privacy of individuals who may be inadvertently captured in these images. The EU has stringent data protection laws, and the retention of images for extended periods is seen as a potential violation of these laws. By reducing the retention period to six months, the EU aims to mitigate the risk of misuse of personal data and enhance the privacy of its citizens.
Moreover, the EU has also instructed Google to provide more transparency to the public. Specifically, they need to offer people in Britain more information on when Street View cars will be photographing their area. This measure is intended to give residents the opportunity to avoid being photographed if they wish, thereby further protecting their privacy.
Potential Legal Battle
It will be interesting to see if Google decides to comply with the EU’s directive to delete the images after six months and take new photographs, or if they choose to challenge this decision in court. Compliance would mean significant operational changes and increased costs for Google. On the other hand, a legal battle could be lengthy and costly, with no guaranteed outcome in Google’s favor.
Google has previously faced legal challenges regarding its Street View service in various countries. For example, in Germany, Google had to blur faces and license plates in Street View images to comply with local privacy laws. In Japan, Google had to lower the height of its Street View cameras after complaints that they were capturing images over fences and into private properties. These examples illustrate the complexities and regional variations in privacy laws that Google must navigate.
Additionally, the outcome of this situation could set a precedent for other regions and countries. If the EU’s directive is upheld, other jurisdictions might adopt similar measures, further complicating Google’s operations globally. This could lead to a broader discussion on the balance between technological innovation and privacy rights.
The EU’s directive for Google to delete Street View images after six months highlights the ongoing tension between technological advancements and privacy concerns. While the directive aims to protect the privacy of EU citizens, it poses significant challenges for Google in terms of operational costs and compliance. The coming months will reveal whether Google will adapt to these new regulations or choose to contest them in court.
via Pocket Lint
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