After all other EU/EEA member states have already been included in Google’s “Google Street View”, Liechtenstein is now to follow suit. This means that photographic views of the streets and paths as well as the surrounding buildings in Liechtenstein can be called up in the “Google Maps” application. When creating and publishing these images, Google worked closely with the data protection authorities in Europe to ensure that the associated data processing complies with the law. On the occasion of Google’s upcoming camera trips in Liechtenstein, the Data Protection Office is therefore providing the following information:
- When and how will the recordings be made?
In August and September 2024, Google will drive around Liechtenstein in an appropriately marked vehicle and take the recordings. The vehicle is equipped with cameras, sensors and servers on which the image files are stored on encrypted hard drives in the car before they are transmitted to Google’s data centers. There, the images are then processed and published on “Google Street View” after around six months. The Liechtenstein population has been informed about Google’s recording activities by the Liechtenstein media (report in “Vaterland” dated July 16, 2024) and can find out about the exact areas of the recording trips and data protection on this website (note: Liechtenstein is not listed in alphabetical order, but only at the end of the drop-down menu).
- What is the legal basis for this?
For the recordings and publication of the images (in which natural persons are not the focus), Google relies on its legitimate economic interest in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. Since Google pixelates (makes unrecognizable) all faces and license plates of the randomly recorded passers-by and vehicles in the images and only records areas of properties that are visible from the street, this is to be considered permissible under data protection law.
However, data subjects can object to this data processing at any time in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR and (if they have not already done so) request that their face, body, license plate, vehicle or house facade be pixelated (see point 4).
→ Google provides further information in accordance with Art. 13 GDPR on the collection and processing of personal data for “Google Street View” in this guideline and in the privacy policy.
- What security measures has Google taken?
The most important security measure taken by Google is the consistent (automated or on request) pixelation of faces and license plates of randomly captured people and vehicles before publishing the images in “Google Street View”. This corresponds to deleting the personal data. After a certain transition period, the pixelation also takes place on the raw data of the images, which also ensures pixelation in future representations. In addition, the recording data was already saved in the vehicle on an encrypted hard drive, so that it is also protected from unauthorized access during transport to Google’s data centers.
- How can I object?
Affected persons can object to the processing of their personal data by Google at any time in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR. They can request that they be deleted or (if, in exceptional cases, Google has not already done so) that a face, body, license plate, vehicle or even a house facade be pixelated. Google does not usually require any further evidence for this. A corresponding request can be made, appropriate to a specific location or image, via the “Report a problem” function in the menu within “Google Street View” (instructions).
If certain buildings are to be pixelated before they are first published in “Google Street View” (preliminary objection), sufficient information must be sent to Google. This can be done either via the relevant web form or by completing the Geodata Code form, which should be sent by email to streetview_deutschland@google.com or by post to Google LLC c/o Google Germany GmbH, Betr. Street View, ABC-Str. 19, 20354 Hamburg, Germany. (Note: Although these forms are aimed at Germany, they can also be used by people in Liechtenstein.) A separate request is required for each house or apartment that is to be obscured.
- Can I also lodge a complaint?
You can lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Authority in Liechtenstein if you do not agree with Google’s processing of your own personal data. However, the data protection supervisory authority in Ireland is responsible for Google in Europe, which is why the Data Protection Authority will forward your complaint to this authority as part of the European cooperation procedure.
https://www.datenschutzstelle.li/aktuelles/google-street-view-liechtenstein