The Czech data protection authority has reportedly banned Google from collecting data for its Street View service. According to a statement issued by the Czech data protection office, Google was invading privacy by using high-level cameras capable of taking shots that go beyond the extent of ordinary sight from a street.
The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection said that it has received dozens of complaints about photographs of the interiors of homes and people engaged in private activities as well as invasive shots of private property beyond fences. Google has also been accused of failing to appoint a local representative to deal with personal data, as required by European law.
Google, which uses specially equipped vehicles to take 'street-view' pictures of municipalities worldwide, has appealed the decision. The data office has said that it would deal with the appeal.
In Germany, protests forced Google to launch a campaign giving citizens concerned about safety or privacy eight weeks to tell the company to pixel out pictures of their homes or businesses before they are published.
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