Germans don't like Google's 'Street View'

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BERLIN, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Many Germans don't want pictures of their homes included on Google's "Street View" service set to launch later this year, officials say.

Google's controversial service features pictures snapped by camera-equipped cars and are an added feature to Google's satellite maps, EUobserver reported Friday.

Thousands of Germans have already said they don't want their residences used in Street View; Google officials said residents have until September 21 to submit a letter stating they want to be excluded, the report said.

German officials have also expressed their opinions on Street View.

"Every citizen holds under EU law the right of appeal against Google Street View," European Union Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said in a report in the newspaper Bild.

Street View is currently available in 10 EU member states: UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands and the Czech Republic, as well in the non-EU European countries Norway and Switzerland, EUobserver said.