Authorities in the Czech Republic have banned Google Inc from continuing its mapping feature "Street VieW" in the eastern European country.

The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection said Google has not been granted a necessary registration for the activity.

Spokeswoman Hana Stepankova, however, declined to give any further details today and said office plans to take up the case next week.

The office has been investigating Google for failing to meet necessary requirements needed to collect data used for "Street View" since April.

Czech's ban is not an isolated incident. The US Internet giant has come under fire from authorities across Europe, including Germany, over concerns that it violated people's privacy while taking shots of city streets.

Google acknowledged the privacy breach in an apology this spring.