14 DAY TRIAL // Google is continuing to have trouble the Czech Republic. Data privacy officials in the country have expressed 'concerns' about the service and previously banned Google from shooting more images, while an opinion is formulated.
Now, according to The Guardian, Igor Nemec, chairman of the Czech privacy watchdog, has said that Google's mapping service is a threat to privacy.
He believes that Street View "disproportionately invades citizens' privacy" and is unwilling to allow Google to shoot in the country.
Last week, the office said that it is investigating Google over concerns that it may be breaking the law. The officials didn't actually know if Street View was against the law or not and, apparently, still haven't been able to find out.
Perhaps the reason why it's taking so long to determine this is because Street View is, in fact, well within the confines of the law, as it is in any country which deems itself "free," but this is just speculation.
Most countries around the world allow companies and individuals to take photos and videos from public locations without restriction.
Without this provision most news papers, not to mention TV broadcasters, would find themselves in difficulty when trying to report on a story.
What's more, nobody is stopping tourists from taking photos of public places, especially in a country with a healthy tourism industry like the Czech Republic. Against the law or not, regulators are worried and are still negotiating with Google.
One of the complaints is that the cameras mounted on Street View cars are too tall at 2.7 meters and are able to 'peek' over fences.
Google had the same problem in Japan where it had to reshoot a number of cities with cameras mounted lower.
Another concern was that Google failed to appoint a representative in the Czech Republic, as is the law in the country for any non-European company collecting data.
Google Street View is already live for a number of Czech cities and the imagery will remain available during the negotiations.