The European Union (EU) has issued a devastating blow to Google saying that they must delete unblurred Street View images after 6 months ; Google’s policy had been that it deletes or updates the photos every 12 months.
According to computerworld.com,“Google holds Street View images for a year but the EU"s Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has said the search engine must cut this in half, as 12 months is a ‘disproportionate’ length of time.”
The EU cites concerns about data privacy and that Google needs to be more open about when its vehicles, with cameras attached, would be driving through areas so that citizens could take actions they felt necessary to protect their identities or property. While Google does have the ability to opt out of being shown on Street View, the EU states that not many people know about it.
Although if Google does start posting when Street View vehicles will be in certain areas, we can expect a lot more SCUBA divers to chase the vehicle.
As the EU will begin to enforce the stricter policy of Street View images, Google will be forced to either hire more drivers, or no longer cover certain areas as their deadlines for capturing new images has been cut in half.