ICO 'won't be panicked' into Google decision

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will not cave in to pressure from various parties to take strong action against Google over its Street View data collection.

The privacy watchdog issued a statement today stressing it will not be "panicked into a knee jerk response to an alarmist agenda."

Last week, MPs gathered to discuss privacy and the internet, where many stood up to criticise Google for taking passwords, emails and URLs during its Street View operation and called for the ICO to punish the search giant.

Following the debate, the ICO confirmed to IT PRO it would not be able to issue a fine as additional powers to issue monetary penalties were not granted to the watchdog until after the data was taken by Google.

Today, the ICO reiterated to IT PRO that no fine could be implemented and there as no way to make the rules retroactive.

Instead, the body would be able to issue an enforcement notice, requiring Google to improve its data handling and protection measures.

Google has also escaped a Metropolitan Police investigation for any potential wrongdoing under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

"As a regulator, the ICO must take a calm and measured approach to the issue of data privacy and ensure that we do not get caught up in the emotive arguments which will only naturally take place around sensitive issues such as the inadvertent collection of data by Google Street View," the ICO said in a statement.

"We must remain evidence based and although our enquiries, along with the enquiries of our international counterparts, are taking longer than many people might like, it is of paramount importance that we get our decision right in order to ensure the public can be confident that their long term privacy interests are being maintained."

The ICO said it was keen to discuss with MPs and ministers how it can "further defend privacy on the internet as technologies and applications develop."

Last week, the watchdog started advertising for a new technology adviser post and today said it is planning to establish an industry panel of experts to advise in this area.

"It is also important to note that none of the regulators currently investigating Google Street View have taken direct enforcement action at this stage, with the US investigation led by the US Federal Trade Commission for example ruling out direct action, although mirroring our own concern that this data was allowed to be collected by an organisation who showed such disregard for international data protection legislation," the ICO added.

Earlier in the year, the ICO completed an initial investigation into the case, concluding the personal details collected by Google were not "meaningful" enough to warrant punishment.