Google Maps Street View Illegal In Canada?
September 13, 2007 | by Christopher Nickson
The Canadian Privacy Commission has warned that the Street View feature of Google Maps might break privacy laws since it shows recognizable people.
In a pre-emptive strike, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has warned Google that if it expands its Street View feature of Google Maps to the country, it could be breaking a law regarding individual privacy.
So far, Google has used the tool in maps of just nine US cities. It offers 360-degree views at the street level, including people informally captured on camera who can easily be recognized.
The Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, wrote to Google last month asking for clarification on its intent. The pictures of individuals are clear enough to be considered personal information, and under Canadian law businesses disclosing personal information about individuals need their consent first. Immersive Media Corp., which produced the images, says it has street level pictures of Canadian cities.
"The images ... appear to have been collected largely without the consent and knowledge of the individuals who appear in the images," wrote Stoddart. "I am concerned that, if the Street View application were deployed in Canada, it might not comply with our federal privacy legislation. In particular, it does not appear to meet the basic requirements of (the law)."
People could ask for their image to be removed from Street View, but Stoddart said this would not meet Canada’s 2004 personal information protection act.
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