Scottish Daily Mail

Google security crackdown: No looking out your window

- From Jim Norton in Selinunte, Sicily

GooGLE’S gala dinner saw the world’s best and brightest descend upon an ancient Italian city.

But it seems locals hoping to catch a glimpse of the star-studded event have been told to mind their own business.

Residents near the archeologi­cal site of Selinunte, on the south-west coast of Sicily, have revealed they were even warned by police not to look out of their windows.

With helicopter­s circling the perimeter for days beforehand, those living nearby said organisers also set up floodlight­s to shine on to the surroundin­g road, to stop anyone taking photos or watching with binoculars.

A hotel owner complained that he had to give police the names of his 14 guests – who were then forced to keep the shutters down to prevent them from peeking. The extreme security measures left them unable to enjoy the sunset. The hotelier was also asked not to allow his guests – or his own family – to use the building’s balconies.

Google’s £16million three-day climate change summit – held at the nearby Verdura resort, and attended by stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and Katy Perry – came under fire as many guests were flown in on private jets.

Prince Harry was singled out after he made an impassione­d barefoot speech despite arriving by helicopter.

Some locals did manage to get a glimpse of the special royal guest, however – having seen him walk by as Coldplay warmed up for their gig at Google’s gala dinner. one said: ‘He looked very happy, he was very talkative to everyone. He was very casual, he had jeans on.’

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