Having already experienced and addressed privacy concerns in the United States, Google’s controversial Street View tool was widely expected to suffer through similar issues upon arriving in Europe.
Google introduces privacy measures to Street View that get campaigner approval in the UK. Image: Google.
However, although the ambitious and interactive 3D mapping application did indeed attract criticism from privacy advocates as it prepared to cross the pond, Street View has now been given the official go-ahead in the United Kingdom.
More specifically, UK privacy watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has released a statement outlining its satisfaction regarding safeguards implemented by Google to protect the privacy of those people unwittingly captured by Street View’s roaming cameras.
“Although it is possible that in certain limited circumstances an image may allow the identification of an individual, it is clear that Google are keen to capture images of streets and not individuals,” said the statement.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has also moved to allay fears regarding Street View’s potential as a tracking tool, maintaining that a processing delay between image capture and online publication make it largely ineffectual.
To help successfully manoeuvre Street View past the crosshairs of UK privacy campaigners, Google has introduced software designed specifically to track down and apply blurring to individual faces and vehicle registration plates.
“We’ve always said we will not launch in UK until we are comfortable Street View complies with local law,” commented a Google spokesperson in a BBC report, “and that we will use technology, like face-blurring, license plate blurring and operational controls, such as image removal tools, so Street View remains useful and in keeping with local norms wherever it is available.”
Street View’s real-world and three-dimensional photographs are gathered by a fleet of Google vehicles equipped with specially mounted cameras capable of snapping panoramic pictures that can then be moved through interactively by the user.
The Information Commissioner's Office added that it intends to further discuss Street View with Google before the mapping tool is officially launched in the UK. That launch date has not yet been confirmed by Google, although Street View vehicles have already been spotted on UK roads.
Easily found through Google Maps, the Street View tool currently provides its users in the United States with immersive photographic representations across a number of the country’s largest cities.
The service is eventually expected to expand around the world, although it will likely meet with more privacy and religious-based concerns as it does so.
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ChristinOct 20th, 2008 - 14:05:35
'Never mind Google, we have Street Level View already, check out NovaLoca and its blog!'
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ChristinOct 20th, 2008 - 14:05:35
'Never mind Google, we have Street Level View already, check out NovaLoca and its blog!'
Report this comment