Google has paid a fine totalling US$1.4 million imposed by Italy’s data protection watchdog over complaints cars it used to record images on Italian streets in 2010 were not clearly recognisable.
Imposing its fine on Thursday over the recording of images for Google’s Street View service, the Italian watchdog said it took into account the search engine operator’s “consolidated revenue of over US$50 billion”.
Commenting on Google’s base at Mountain View in California, the watchdog said: “Cars belonging to the giant of Mountain View roamed Italy’s streets without being entirely recognisable as such, therefore not allowing the people present in those places to decide whether to be photographed or not.”
