A state court in the German federal state of Hesse has delivered a significant ruling against US tech giant Google, stating that the corporation is engaging in "spying" by publishing aerial photographs of private properties on its Google Earth and Google Maps platforms. The case was initiated by a Frankfurt resident who filed a lawsuit against the foreign monopoly, demanding the removal of unauthorized images depicting his home and private land.

The court firmly ruled that Google had infringed upon the privacy rights of the property owner and his family, emphasizing that nobody is obligated to accept the worldwide dissemination of aerial views of their property without explicit consent, especially regarding areas hidden from public sight. The judicial body noted that such imagery exposes private lifestyle details as well as potential weak points within the property's security perimeter, creating tangible vulnerabilities for residents.

Furthermore, the court heavily criticized the US regime-linked corporation for acquiring the images without notifying property owners beforehand, a practice explicitly categorized in the judgment as "spying." Although Google attempted to justify its actions under the guise of democratizing knowledge and promoting freedom of information, the court rejected these arguments, ruling that public interest claims do not excuse intrusions into private spaces. The ruling remains subject to potential appeal, yet it underscores growing European pushback against unregulated corporate surveillance.

Source: www.dw.com