Should Google Shut Down Street View?
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The Information Commisioner (ICO) has recieved a formal complaint Privacy International (PI, calling for the services of Google Street View to cease.
Since Google Street View launched in the United Kingdom recently, Privacy International claim that over 200 members of the British public claim that they are featured on Street View, and PI now says that it is causing “clear embarrassment and damage” to the public. Last week, a national newspaper featured a photograph from Street View showing a member of the public smoking right next to a No Smoking sign.
Simon Davies, head of Privacy International, has said: “The Information Comissioner never grasped the gravity of how a benign of legislation could effect ordinary lives.” He added: “We’re asking for the system to be switched off while an investigation is completed”.
This is not the first time I have posted about the privacy issues related to Google Street View. Earlier last year I reported on a couple who filed a court case against Google, claiming that the images featured on Street View of their house had made their house price fall and had caused them “mental suffering”. Last month, I posted on the topic again, when a judge ruled the case in favour of Google, saying that the family, the Borings, were potentially making their suffering out to be more than it actually was, and I agreed.
I believe that this is a complete stain on Google’s history. I have always felt happy and comfortable when I visit Google, and still do. But those that have been featured on Street View may now have a different opinion. I think that this controversy will continue to be dug up for years to come and re-used in any arguments with Google that may commence in the future.
According to ICO, one woman contacted them to complain that she and her house had been featured on Street View after she moved away for safety from a violent partner. The ICOhas now said that they will respond “shortly”. It said that it was Google’s “responsibility” to blur out all registration plates and faces. It said that the public should contact Google directly to have images replaced with black screens, as many have. It added: “Individuals who have raised concerns with Google about their image being included - and who do not think they have received a satisfactory response - can complain to the ICO.”
Have you been effected by this either in the UK or the US? Have you been featured on Street View? Do you believe that Street View should be shut down? Are people making this into something much larger than it actually is? Are people over-reacting? I’m not sure. Let us know what you think in a comment.
3 Comments
Cliffystones
March 26th, 2009
at 9:47am
I don’t understand the problem here. I’m a staunch advocate of privacy rights myself, but all I’ve ever seen is a street view of houses, businesses, apartments,etc. The same view that a person driving or walking by would see. No privacy violated as far as I can see.
On a personal note, it was heartwarming to see that the current occupants of the house I grew up in decades ago were doing a fine job of taking care of it. Also the neighborhood didn’t look like the “Third World”. And “street view” was a lot cheaper than airline tickets :).
Bill Morgan
March 27th, 2009
at 10:00am
I think it should stay. There will always be people who will be offended by ANYTHING out there but this is a valuable service that helps me and many like me out. It is very helpful to me to be able to see the front of houses/buildings before I go make a delivery, especially if the listing is one or two listings off.
hmm
October 31st, 2009
at 3:09pm
Cliffystones: “same view that a person driving or walking by would see” while that is true, no one is going to drive by every single street and do that. this is a serious privacy concern, just imagine you watching your wife walking out of someone’s house when she’s supposed to be at work!