The government of the Czech Republic did not allow Google Inc. to implement an expansion of its “Street View” data mapping system by taking additional photos because of privacy concerns.

In a statement posted on its official website, the Office for Personal Data Protection described Google’s program as taking pictures “beyond the extent of the ordinary sight from a street”, and that it “disproportionately invade citizens’ privacy.”

Google Street View provides panoramic photos of many streets in cities around the world. Privacy groups are concerned that their activities which they do not want to be made public will appear in Google.

Internet search giant Google and its data mapping applications have been the subject of scrutiny by government authorities in France, Germany, Italy and Spain because of the same privacy and security issues.

Just last month, the company’s Seoul office was raided by South Korean police in connection with its “Street View” program.

Czech Republic regulators said that the decision about Google’s data mapping service is not final, and that they will consider further talks with the company.
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