The European Union has reportedly asked Google (News - Alert) Inc. to make new efforts to enable greater privacy for people captured in images used for its Street View feature in Google Maps.

 

According to an AP report, EU data privacy regulators are telling Google it needs to warn people before sending cameras into cities and towns to take photos used for Street View. EU regulators are also requesting that Google shorten the time it archives the photos from one year to six months.

Street View gives Google Maps users the ability to “zoom in” from a satellite image all the way down to a street level perspective – however the images are not updated in real time. Users can, for example, get street level views in major cities, which can be helpful in identifying landmarks and for navigational purposes.

 

Google issued a statement saying its need to retain Street View images for one year is 'legitimate and justified.' The company points out that it already posts notifications on its Web site about where its Street View cameras are clicking. In addition Google uses special software to blur pictures of faces and car license plates.

According to the AP report, some European governments are concerned that taking pictures of people in public places may violate EU rules on personal privacy. As a result, Google has been slow to roll out its Street View service in Europe.

The warning from the EU comes a day after an Italian court convicted three Google executives of privacy violations because they did not act quickly enough to remove an online video that showed teen bullies mocking and hitting an autistic boy. Google said it would appeal the case, claiming it attacked freedom of speech on the Internet.