German government considers how to ease privacy concerns over Google’s ‘Street View’ feature

German gov’t considers ‘Street View’ concerns

BERLIN — Germany’s Cabinet is discussing what the country might do to ease concerns over the privacy implications of Internet services such as Google’s “Street View” mapping feature.

The issue landed on the government’s agenda for Wednesday’s meeting after parliament’s upper house called last month for tougher rules on such services.

Google says it will introduce “Street View” for 20 German cities before the end of the year. At authorities’ insistence, the company has introduced an online tool that allows Germans to ask to have images of their homes removed.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper people shouldn’t get “hysterical” about the issue and called for “caution in introducing blanket rules allowing objections.”