A German Data Protection regulator has threatened Google with unspecified sanctions if the search engine fails to comply with the country’s strict privacy laws. The officer is looking for written guarantees from Google agreeing to make changes regarding the operation of its Street View mapping service. German law prohibits the dissemination of photos of people/property without their consent. The news story which would be interest to data protection and compliance officers at institutions can be accessed here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/technology/companies/20google.html.
(29/05/09)