Switzerland Takes Google to Court over Street View Privacy

The google application allows a 360-degree view of any street-level location. Photo by blogoscoped.com (Google Street View)

Web search giant Google faces a court case in Switzerland because of privacy concerns over its Street View service.

The application allows a 360-degree view of any street-level location.

"Numerous faces and vehicle number plates are not made sufficiently unrecognisable," said data protection commissioner Hanspeter Thuer.

Google said it was disappointed by the move. The firm says it is sure that Street View is legal in Switzerland and will "vigorously contest" the case.

Thuer is especially concerned about people shown in sensitive locations such as hospitals, prisons or schools.

He also said that the height of the camera was problematic because it allowed a view over fences, hedges and walls, meaning that more could be seen from Street View than by a normal passer-by.

The commissioner said Google was asked in August to take various measures and had not complied with the requests.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!