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Open Source: 9 Countries That Hate Google Street View
If you've ever caught a glimpse of a specially adapted car with a huge camera sticking out of the sunroof, chances are you've just been spotted by Google's now-infamous Street View technology. Launched in 2007, the popular Google Maps add-on provides clear panoramic views of streets, buildings, and cities across the globe. But recently, the world’s biggest search engine and its Street View team has been accused of breaking privacy laws in several countries. As if the censorship troubles with China weren’t enough, Google has now made the shit-list of a bunch of other nations, including our own U.S. of A. From Canada to South Korea, check out 9 Countries that Hate Google Street View...
United Kingdom
The Issue: After fessing up to “inadvertently” collecting data (emails, passwords, URLs) from unprotected wireless networks, Google was found guilty of breaking Britain's data protection laws.
Action Taken: Google escaped the maximum fine of $800,000, but the U.K. Information Commissioner’s office requested that the company provide written legal assurance to ensure no data protection breaches occur in the future. In addition, Google must update certain policies and create a security-awareness program for employees.
Germany
The Issue: Technical problems with Google's mapping service made censored images of private homes and obscured properties visible to iPad, iPhone, and PC users. This broke Germany's privacy laws.
Action Taken: Besides threatening to sue Google for several months, Germany has taken no legal action. An estimated 3% of Germany's residents have requested to have images of their homes removed from Street View.
Italy
The Issue: Italy requested that Google inform Italian citizens of the Street View service by clearly marking the routes the vehicles were using to collect data. Google didn't do this, and it also violated privacy laws by illegally intercepting data transmissions from unencrypted networks without authorization.
Action Taken: After Google pledged to improve security practices and delete all collected data, Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation against the company. Failure to comply may lead to fines of up to 180,000 euros (US $250,000).
Canada
The Issue: The search engine giant violated Canadian privacy laws when it collected private data through wi-fi networks, including email addresses, passwords, telephone numbers, and, for some reason, the names of residents suffering from certain medical conditions.
Action Taken: An investigation by Canada's Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, found Google guilty of breaking privacy laws, but no fines were issued. Google has been given until Feb. 1, 2011 to delete all illegally collected data.
United States
The Issue: After a recent FCC (Federal Communications Commission) investigation on Google, a new probe has been opened to determine if the company's Street View team broke privacy laws when collecting personal data between 2007 and May 2010.
Action Taken: No penalties have been issued, but intentional violations of the law could result in Google being fined up to $50,000 for each violation.
Spain
The Issue: The Spanish Agency for Data Protection claims Google committed five offenses by capturing data from unsecured wi-fi networks while collecting street images.
Action Taken: At the moment, Spain is suing Google. If the allegations hold up in court, Google may sustain fines between 60,000 and 600,000 euros ($84,000 and $840,000) for each offense.
South Korea
The Issue: Suspecting that Google was breaking local privacy laws, the South Korean Police Department raided Google’s Seoul office for unauthorized collection and storage of data from unspecified Internet users that it had gathered over wi-fi networks.
Action Taken: Street View has yet to launch in this country, but South Korea's Cyber Terror Response Center has initiated an ongoing investigation to track Google's moves.
Czech Republic
The Issue: The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection claimed Google invaded the privacy of citizens by failing to meet necessary data-collection guidelines and requirements.
Action Taken: In September 2010, without any explanation, the OPDP refused Google the necessary registration to expand the feature into the country. This may potentially lead to a permanent ban on the service.
Switzerland
The Issue: In 2009, Swiss authorities accused Google of breaking privacy laws by not following a series of governmental measures. Google failed to censor faces, license plates, and other images deemed personal and sensitive (e.g., photos of people at hospitals, prisons, and schools).
Action Taken: Google can still take photos in Switzerland, but a provisional agreement with the country prevents it from publishing any images online.
