Google and Privacy International clash again

From the Guardian:

"Google has dismissed accusations that it is orchestrating "an unsavoury and defamatory smear campaign" in the increasingly ferocious battle with the campaign group Privacy International, which claims the technology giant is trying to discredit its concerns over the controversial Street View tool.

In an open letter to Google chief executive Eric Schmidt tonight, Privacy International's director Simon Davies claims that after it had raising a series of privacy concerns in the national press, Google staff began secretly briefing journalists against the group by alleging it is supported by and institutionally biased in favour of Microsoft."