Google cedes to German demand to erase data

BERLIN -- Google is willing to concede to German demands the company erase photos for its panoramic mapping service after they have been processed, a data protection official said Wednesday.

Johannes Caspar, the head of the Hamburg regional office for data protection, said Google had agreed to erase the raw footage of faces, house numbers, license plates and individuals in Germany who have told authorities they do not want their information used in the service.

Google confirmed the agreement and added that it would also post a link on the Street View website for Germany when it launches where anyone may request to have their data blocked.

Google's Street View mapping service offers detailed street-level images. Since launching in the U.S. in 2007, it has expanded to more than 100 cities worldwide but has faced privacy complaints from many individuals and institutions that have been photographed.