Google Maps' Street View has become popular among drivers but courted controversy when it was found that the photos often displayed individuals on the street and inside buildings. Though many in the US have complained over potential privacy issues, no legal measures have been taken against it as it is considered to be in accordance with the law.
In the European Union, unsurprisingly, the search giant may face some hurdles for displaying ground level photos of the streets online. EU data protection supervisor Peter Hustinx said that if the service eventually is offered in European countries it could cause privacy problems under current legislation. Even before Hustinx made the comment to reporters, however, Google said that it had already begun testing a new feature which will blur people's faces. Whether or not the measure will be enough to put regulators' privacy concerns to rest remains to be seen.