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After Modifications, Google Street View Approved For Switzerland

Posted by Soulskill on from the good-idea-to-do-what-the-swiss-ask dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Since Google began collecting Street View data in Europe a few years ago, many countries have taken it the company to court in order to settle privacy concerns. The NY Times reports that the last challenge to Street View's basic legality has been resolved. Switzerland's top court accepted that Google could only guarantee they would blur out 99% of faces, license plates, and other identifying markers, but also imposed some additional restrictions. 'Those conditions would require Google to lower the height of its Street View cameras so they would not peer over garden walls and hedges, to completely blur out sensitive facilities like women's shelters, prisons, retirement homes and schools, and to advise communities in advance of scheduled tapings.'"

5 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Switzerland is not a EU member by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why is this tagged "eu" and has a EU flag? Switzerland is not a EU member.

  2. Switzerland is not in EU by orzetto · · Score: 4, Informative

    Even if the article is tagged EU, it discusses only Switzerland, and Switzerland is not in the EU.

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  3. If you are out in public why expect privacy? by capedgirardeau · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The law regarding this type of thing here in Switzerland drives me crazy.

    You are out in public, you should have no expectation of privacy. Period, end of story.

    What is next? Legislating that no one can look at anyone else in public? We all have to walk with our heads down so we don't accidentally see anyone else out on the street?

    I am all for private data staying private, but when I am out in public, it is, get this: public information.

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    1. Re:If you are out in public why expect privacy? by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I am all for private data staying private, but when I am out in public, it is, get this: public information.

      I have a 6' fence around my backyard. My neighbors cannot see in, and I cannot see out Stand in the street, take a picture of the front and side of my house, and you see fence.
      Now elevate your viewpoint to 10 feet. You can see much more.

      If I stood in front of your house taking pics with a camera on a 10 foot monopod, you'd rightfully wonder WTF. But Google, with their 10 foot tall cameras, somehow gets a pass.

  4. Seems reasonable by gman003 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Lowering the height seems reasonable. If someone has a high fence or hedge or such, they obviously consider the area behind it "private" and wish it to stay that way. But doing so will not significantly worsen the Street View images.

    Likewise, blurring out sensitive areas is also logical. I think they're going a bit too far, personally - retirement homes? - but it's still not unreasonable. I can disagree with the extent of that decision while still recognizing that it was a logically-defensible and rational decision.

    Advising communities in advance is also reasonable, if defined reasonably. Obviously, demanding Google go door-to-door six months ahead of time and personally notify every single person is unreasonable, but if it's just "mail them a letter stating the days and approximate times you expect to go by" or "put a notice in the local newspaper", it's fine. I doubt many people will care, but it will placate the few who have concerns.