Britain’s privacy law provisions were recently criticized by a conservative MP. He alleged these are useless and “just waste of money”. This reaction from MP Heather Wheeler of Derbyshire South resulted from Google’s position over a certain photograph. Google Street View apparently refused to show the photo of a suspect’s vehicle plate number.
Allegedly, the photograph taken by Google Street View showed a robbery suspect and his vehicle. The vehicle’s plate number however, was deliberately blurred. The photo could probably give the lead to the key of the crime. This stand, according to the search giant, is in conformity to existing privacy laws.
Google maintained their stand. They would only show the unblurred photograph if the police could produce a court order to that effect. Wheeler then reiterated that Google should “enter into a protocol with British police forces to receive and acquiesce to police requests”.
Wheeler further insisted that Google should identify crime as a situation that should not need a court order. Google however defended its position by virtue of existing privacy laws. It further added that should the government legitimately allow such procedures as suggested by Wheeler, then they would abide by. However, the present condition regarding privacy laws puts Google tied up to its privacy agreement with its users.
A government representative gave a hint of information related to the case at hand. According to him, the Data Protection Act does not disallow companies to provide information connected to investigation of a crime. What is needed now is official ruling from the right government agency. In its entirety, privacy laws are broad, but there should be definite provisions applicable in special cases.
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