Germans upset by Google Street View

According to EUObserver.com, over 10,000 Germans, including the country's consumer minister, have asked not to be photographed when Google's Street View vehicles pass to photograph their homes in the coming weeks.


Read more here: http://euobserver.com/9/30620/?rk=1

EU agency to reveal secret data on drug side-effects

EUObserver reports that the European Medicines Agency has reversed its long-held stance on releasing studies on drug side effects after pressure from the European Ombudsman. The London-based agency, which evaluates drugs in the EU, on Wednesday (11 August) said that it would issue data on anti-acne medication Roaccutane produced by pharma giant Roche in the coming weeks.

Read more here: http://euobserver.com/9/30613/?rk=1

Spies, secrets and smart-phones

The Economist writes that some sort of a deal seems to have been thrashed out over the weekend, according to reports from Saudi Arabia, under which its spooks will be able to snoop to their heart's content on messages sent over BlackBerrys within the kingdom.

Read the full article here: http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/08/blackberrys_and_encryption

Italian gag law threatens bloggers with €25,000 fines for ‘incorrect' fact

EUObserver.com reports that Bloggers, podcasters and even anyone who posts updates on social networks such as Facebook all face being slapped with fines of up to €25,000 for publishing incorrect facts, if a bill that journalists' organisations are calling "authoritarian" currently before the Italian parliament is passed.

Read more here: http://euobserver.com/9/30559/?rk=1