Concerned about privacy with regards to the search engine giant's Street View service, Switzerland has taken Google to court saying that the service can pose a possible privacy threat. Google's Street View provides users with a 360-degree view of any "street-level" location.

Raising concerns that Street View might make things difficult for local residents, especially people in sensitive locations like hospitals, schools, prisons, etc., Data Protection Commissioner Hanspeter Thuer said, "Numerous faces and vehicle number plates are not made sufficiently unrecognizable".

Thuer has also asserted that placement of the camera used for pictures and its height are also a problem because they seemed to allow views over fences and walls, thereby allowing users to see more with Street View than they otherwise would as normal passer-bys.

Expressing acute disappointment over the move, Google has shared that Street View is completely legal in Switzerland and the company will "vigorously contest the case".

While the court case might take up-to months to commence, there is a great possibility that the Swiss availability of Google's popular service might see an immediate impact. Thuer is seeking a tribunal order for Google to remove all Swiss pictures till a ruling is made.