Interview with Germany's Consumer Protection Minister: 'Google Cannot Allow Itself to Make any Further Mistakes'

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SPIEGEL ONLINE: When Google publicly announced last week that it would launch Street View in Germany by the end of the year, politicians seemed to be taken by surprise -- including you. Were you asleep at the wheel?

Aigner: Google took people by surprise by making the announcement during the summer holidays, and it didn't do itself any favors by doing so. As for me: I have been actively addressing this subject for months now, and I have met multiple times with managers at Google for top-level talks. Nevertheless, last week the company informed the federal government with very short notice. And the residents of the 20 cities where Street View is to start in 2010 were only given a four-week deadline for registering their objections in advance. In my view it has to be extended because many people are still on their summer holidays. (Editor's note: After the publication of this interview in German, Google announced it would extend the deadline for residents in Germany to submit requests to have their homes blurred to two months.)

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Do you still trust Google?

Aigner: To be honest: The fact that my ministry was only able to bring to light the fact that private wireless network data had been illegally intercepted after persistent requests to Google, which took several weeks, did not help to build trust. I have since had several meetings with Google and I am convinced that they now place great value on abiding by the objection procedures. The damage to the image of the brand is already enormous. Google cannot allow itself to make any further mistakes, particularly given that Germany is one of the company's most important markets after the USA.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: A colleague in your political party, CSU domestic affairs expert Stephan Mayer, as well as an FDP politician, are calling for a declaration of consent to be signed by some sections of the population -- senior citizens, for example -- before their homes may be photographed. What's your position on that?

Aigner: That demand is understandable, but it could backfire. Should we seriously be handing over offical data on addresses, sorted by age group, to Internet companies on a silver platter? This is an area where Google itself has obligations. I expect a broad amount of information to be given to the public -- both about how it is dealing with existing objections and about future trips by the Street View cameras. Seeing as Google is unfortunately not doing this sufficiently, I am taking over.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Does it annoy you that some on the Web regard you as an Internet scaremongerer?

Aigner: I would remind you that it was SPIEGEL ONLINE that coined that phrase. Anyone who knows me knows that I am far from a technophobe. I can only smile at that ...

SPIEGEL ONLINE: ... because you used to work on the development of helicopters?

Aigner: That's one reason. I am also personally interested in the Internet and new technologies. I have to admit, I find the topic really fun.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: But not Facebook, apparently. You publicly cancelled your account, something that the Internet community mocked as a "helpless gesture."

Aigner: Hang on a second! I provoked a wide debate about responsibility and the rules of the game on social networking sites. And the international discussion forced Facebook to at least improve its security settings -- even if that is only the first step. Furthermore: If I, as consumer protection minister, were still on Facebook, then I would be publicly vouching for its harmlessness. That was why I had to leave. Other social networking sites have better security policies and higher protection standards for their members.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Is the debate about Google and other companies getting increasingly hysterical?

Aigner: The fact that data protection is perhaps discussed more fundamentally and also more emotionally in Germany than elsewhere, has certainly to do with our history and with the painful memory of two totalitarian regimes. Many people do not wish to appear in the digital fishbowl -- and we have to respect their concerns.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Did registering your own objection work?

Aigner: I already sent a written objection months ago for my private apartment, and I will naturally be checking if it has been implemented.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Have you ever bought something on the Internet?

Aigner: Of course! However, I am very careful about what data I give. If possible, I get an invoice rather than paying online with my credit card. And naturally I also use online banking.

SPIEGEL ONLINE. One retail chain in Germany is now offering a flying drone that can be steered by smartphone for just €300 ($390). Have you already bought one?

Aigner: (laughs) No, what would I do with it? That is nothing new. You could already buy them from specialist stores. They are called quadrocopters and have four rotors.

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• Part 1: 'Google Cannot Allow Itself to Make any Further Mistakes'
• Part 2: Aigner on Google's Information Deficit and Her Image as an Internet Scaremongerer