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Press release on Google Street View service

Press release

23 May 2011

Google Ireland Ltd., with its seat in Ireland, was today registered in the personal data processing register maintained by the Office for Personal Data Protection as the controller responsible for operating the Google Street View service in the Czech Republic.

  • Following refusal of the application in 2010 to register personal data processing within the scope of operation of the Street View service in the Czech Republic, Google Inc. asked the Office for the Protection of Personal Data for a detailed explanation of the particulars of operation of the Street View service in the Czech Republic. These negotiations resulted in a new notification of registration being submitted on 22 April 2011, which declared the following:
  • Nomination of the responsible controller in the EU. Google Ireland Ltd. became the controller. This company shall be fully responsible for ensuring that collection of personal data in the Czech Republic and processing of the data in data centres is carried out in compliance with the Czech legal regulations on personal data protection. This company may be contacted at any time, for example, with complaints, queries or requests for deletion of a particular photograph. These submissions will be given immediate consideration within a deadline of 48 hours. Czech citizens may communicate with the company in Czech at URL link http://maps.google.co.uk/intl/cs_cz/help/maps/streetview/privacy.html
  • Google Inc. has agreed to lower the height of the tower on which the camera is located to 2.3 - 2.4 m instead of the original height of 2.7 m.
  • Under the internal regulations and the principles of ethical conduct, Google employees are obliged to protect personal data and to treat it as confidential. The general internal regulations and the principles of personal data protection and confidentiality are also publicly available in Czech at URL link http://www.google.cz/intl/cs/privacy/
  • Drivers carrying out work for the purposes of the Street View service receive special training and instructions. They are instructed to plan their journey in such a way as to avoid certain locations (such as schools) during certain busy periods, or even to postpone trips to these locations if the timing is inconvenient and to return at a more convenient time.
  • Prior to photographs being taken for Street View, the regional authorities (e.g., municipal offices) and tourist information stands will be informed so that they are aware that photographs are being taken in the location where they are active. The general public will be informed that photographs are being taken via the media, an advertising campaign and the Street View web pages, which will be available in Czech.
  • When transferring personal data to the USA Google Inc., as a member of the "Safe Harbor" system, will undergo annual certification pertaining to compliance with the "Safe Harbor" rules, which reflect the principles expressed in the Act on Protection of Personal Data.

Hana Stepankova
Spokeswoman
Office for Personal Data Protection