Google is plagued by privacy issues or gives up the street view service for Europe

According to foreign media reports, if the EU privacy protection regulatory authority shortens the photo retention time from 12 months to 6 months, google will no longer provide street view services in Europe.

"I think we will consider whether we are still providing street view services in Europe," said Michael Jones, a Google executive and founder of Google Earth at the CeBIT Technology Exhibition, because the cost will be higher."

The EU privacy regulatory authority sent a letter to Google on June 25, saying that "it is inappropriate to save unblurred photos for one year". It is recommended that Google shorten the photo retention time to six months. Jones said that Google had already negotiated with relevant EU agencies and agreed to keep the photos for only one year. Because Google cannot improve data processing speed due to software restrictions, it further shortens photo storage timeIs not feasible. "I think privacy is more important than technology, but we are limited by technology," Jones said. We have met the EU's privacy requirements, but we need enough time ."

Google said last month that the company explained to the EU privacy protection agency Article 29 why unblurred photos must be kept for one year. Peter Fleischer, Google's Privacy Protection Attorney, said in a statement, "the need to save photos without blurring is legal and reasonable-ensuring the quality and accuracy of the map service, improving our ability to improve mistakes in blurring, and leveraging the data we have develop better map products."

Jones said that once blurred, there is no need to save the original photo.

To address the privacy issue of the German version of Street View service, Google will provide users with the opportunity to delete inappropriate photos before the release. Google will also provide a tool to quickly delete images. Jones said, "We will not leave Germany because Germany is the largest market for Google Maps in Europe and we will abide by privacy protection laws and regulations ." (Sunshine)