News - National
Czech Republic bans Google Street View
Posted: Sep 22, 2010 7:09 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Updated: Sep 22, 2010 7:10 AM
The Czech Republic's privacy watchdog says Google has not been granted permission to expand its mapping feature Street View because it invades peoples' privacy.
The Office for Personal Data Protection last week refused Google the necessary registration for Street View in the eastern European country but did not explain why.
Google then considered it a temporary decision.
Office head Igor Nemec says Google uses means that "disproportionately invade citizens' privacy." Nemec said Wednesday that Google also does not have a proper legal representative on Czech territory to handle personal data.
The U.S. Internet giant has come under fire from authorities across Europe over privacy concerns, most recently for vacuuming up fragments of people's online activities sent over public Wi-Fi networks for years while taking shots of city streets.
As Seen On News 5
