Press release on administrative proceedings of the Office for Personal Data Protection concerning the Google Inc. Street View service

 22 September 2010

After carrying out administrative proceedings the Office for Personal Data Protection decided on 2 September not to allow personal data to be processed as part of the Street View service announced by Google Inc.

This data processing does not comply with the conditions stipulated in the Personal Data Protection Act:

1. A data controller that is seated outside the EU is obliged to appoint a representative (data processor) on the territory of the Czech Republic. Google Inc., an American entity, has failed to do this.
2. In order to provide the Street View service, Google Inc. uses technological processes that disproportionately invade citizens' privacy (e.g., setting up cameras that take shots beyond the extent of the ordinary sight from a street).

The Office for Personal Data Protection closed the administrative procedure by issuing its decision of 2 September 2010, further to which Google Inc. – through a lawyer – submitted on 17 September 2010 a disquisition concerning the use of technological means that will be dealt with by the Office.

Refusal of the registration does not prevent the possibility of further negotiations.

Hana Stepankova
Spokeswoman
Office for Personal Data Protection