Information Commissioner gives green light to Street View

The ICO has ruled that Google's Street View does not breach privacy

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has rejected objections from human rights group Privacy International over Google's Street View, according to reports.

The watchdog said that, despite its contentious introduction into the UK, Street View, which provides a photographic 360-degree view of streets across the country, does not constitute a threat to personal privacy.

Google uses automated software to obscure details such as faces and number plates, but some feel that it is a violation of privacy and could be used by criminals such as burglars to scope out areas and properties from the safety of their own home.

Residents of one village in Buckinghamshire recently mobbed one of Google's camera mounted cars to prevent it from taking photos of the area.

However, the ICO compared Street View to a televised football match, saying that, under the same argument, television companies would have to obtain the consent of every attendee in case they were caught on film during the game.

The organisation added that it will continue to review the issue, and will deal with any specific complaints that may arise.

Despite these complaints, Google Street View proved a hit with vnunet.com readers. In a recent poll, 67 per cent of the 2,400 respondents agreed that no further action needed to be taken, and that Google's offer to remove any offending images is an adequate response.