Google Street View does not invade privacy, the Information Commissioner ruled today.
The privacy watchdog rejected a complaint that the service breaches the Data Protection Act and said it was not in the public interest to 'turn the digital clock back.'
Privacy breach? This woman captured by Google Street View in Queensway, London has proven an internet hit
Street View was launched last month in the UK and allows users to scroll round a montage of street-level photographs of Britain. It caused controversy after it was revealed some individuals could be identified after they were missed by the automatic face blurring tool.
One Google Street View car that captures the photos, was forced out of the village of Broughton by angry residents. They claimed the pictures might be used by burglars to target their homes.
Privacy International made the complaint to the watchdog, requesting the service be suspended.
But a spokesman for the Information Commissioner said removing the entire service would be 'disproportionate to the relatively small risk of privacy detriment'.
David Evans, Senior Data Protection Practice Manager said they were taking a 'pragmatic' and 'common sense approach'.
Have you been snapped? A Google street mapping car in Bristol
He said: 'There is no law against anyone taking pictures of people in the street as long as the person using the camera is not harassing people.'
He added that it was not in the public interest 'to turn the digital clock back.'
He said Google should routinely blur images of people's faces and car number plates. The company was responding 'quickly' to requests from people to have particular images deleted, he said.
When the service launched, users discovered a man walking out of a sex shop and another being sick outside a pub.
The Information Commissioner's office confirmed it had received 74 complaints and inquiries about Street View and would continue to monitor the service.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) revealed it met with Google in July 2008 to discuss privacy issues before its UK launch last month.
A Google spokeswoman said: 'We are pleased with the ICO's statement.
'We took care to build privacy considerations into Street View from the outset and have engaged with the ICO throughout the development process.
'Already millions of British people have benefited from Street View, whether to get driving directions, find local businesses, or explore a tourist destination.
'We recognise that a small minority of people may not wish their house to be included in the service, which is why we have created easy to use removal tools.'
By Claire Bates
