Google Street View is no more harmful to privacy than photographers taking pictures in the street, stresses the UK’s privacy watchdog.
Rejecting a complaint made by Privacy International, David Evans of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) also compared the publication of images on Street View to those broadcast in TV news reports.
He added: ‘Some football fans’ faces will be captured on Match of the Day and local news programmes this weekend ? without their consent but perfectly legally.
‘In the same way there is no law against anyone taking pictures in the street, as long as the person using the camera is not harassing people.’
The ICO confirmed that Street View does not infringe the Data Protection Act.
The watchdog called for Google to continue to act on any complaints by blurring faces and car number plates accordingly.
