Federal data protection and transparency officer Hanspeter Thuer released a statement warning that the US-based Internet giant was not respecting conditions he set to respect personal privacy in Switzerland.<\/p>\n
Thuer said that based on public comments and his own browsing, many faces and vehicle number plates had not been covered up or were insufficiently blurred.<\/p>\n
He “demands that Google Inc. immediately withdraw its online service Google Street View concerning Switzerland,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
The Street View facility allows users to take a ground level panoramic view of some locations on Google Maps, based on still photographs taken by specially-equipped vehicles.<\/p>\n
Google recently started taking shots in Switzerland.<\/p>\n
The online service, which began in the United States, has sparked controversy because the snapshots also inadvertently capture passers-by on camera, sometimes in embarrassing or private moments.<\/p>\n
Thuer said he would meet representatives of Google early next week to “improve” the service and ensure that it conforms with Swiss law.<\/p>\n