Japan: Google Street View does not violate privacy

TOKYO - The Japanese government estimated Tuesday that Street View, a service of the American group Google broadcast images of the streets of major cities, did not violate privacy laws, provided they comply with certain conditions.

•     Street View has caused resistance in several countries, particularly in Europe, since its initial launch in May 2007 in the United States.
  
      The Japanese were moved by the fact that pictures of their house, their car or themselves may be presented on the Internet through a service that allows you to browse through 360 degrees in a street, from a map to better identify the site.
  
      A committee dependent on the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Telecommunications has concluded after considering that the service does not violate privacy laws if Google complies with certain conditions, said an official of the ministry, Hideki Murohashi.
  
      To stay within the law, Google must make his shot high and low to hide the faces and license plates of vehicles and other forms of identification. Google cameras do not shoot inside private premises, said the manager.
  
      Google, which has earlier been reported by concerned citizens relayed by the media, has already taken these measures, said Murohashi.
  
      In Britain, the spread of Street View has encountered strong opposition from the broadcasting of images deemed embarrassing. Google has had to withdraw several views, like that of a man emerging from a sex shop in the district of Soho in London or another drunk man vomiting on the outside of a pub in east the capital.
  
      In Greece, the authorities have banned outright in early May Google filming.
  
  
•     In Germany, an agreement was reached last week between the government and Google, after the company agreed to make vague and / or remove entirely on demand faces, houses and vehicles of the plates before they are broadcast on the internet.
  
      Street View is also available in the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain and Italy.
  
   
  Ennaharonline/ M. Oudina