June 2nd, 2007
Does Google Street Views Cross the Line?
By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
It’s cool, that’s for sure. In several US cities, including San Francisco, Denver, New York, Miami and Las Vegas, Google has had snapshots taken at street level and posted the images via its online mapping service. I mean it’s great, unless you are one of the people in the pictures, and don’t want to be. And that’s the problem, according to privacy advocates.
Privacy groups, and a number of individuals, expressed worries that the product crosses the line by showcasing people who never consented to having themselves or their homes photographed. Google countered that the service only features what’s visible from public streets and is therefore within the law.
In typical Internet fashion, many of the most salacious views are being aggregated on various sites around the Web. To see for yourself, go to Google maps and click on the “Street view” button. Source: SFGate
We Say: So what do you think those people on 7th Avenue in New York above would think about being posted here on RealTechNews? Anyway, the images are not real-time or anything, but I’m still not sure I would like to be in any of them. What about you readers?
Mike says:
Privacy is a thing of the past. We have traffic cams, weather cams, personal webcams, now google cams, etc….how can there be privacy? Oh and store security cams - I dont ever remember being asked if I want to be on their tapes
People need to realise that in the world today, with technology at this level, people can see everything you do, and you should act accordingly!
Did google go to far? - NO - Did you take a picture on vacation that accidently included someone else - I bet you did, so can that person come back on you for privacy issues because you did not get their permission?
Mike
why do these “groups” have to push everything WAY too far? Hell I can see my damn house from google maps, so I want to sue because they did not ask my permission!
June 2nd, 2007 at 2:15 am
plamen says:
Mike
, what about other people on the street, would you say they invade your privacy when they see you with their eyes? Or is the problem that computers seem to remember for a longer time, but people on the street dont usually notice you, or if they do, they forget quickly?
June 2nd, 2007 at 5:58 am
Fred says:
Check out this huge list of interesting finds via Google StreetView here:
http://www.laudontech.com/StreetView/streetview.html
June 2nd, 2007 at 6:03 am
Mark says:
I don’t think there’s any reasonable assumption of privacy on a public street, or in windows that face a public street. That’s why most people tend not to undress in front of open windows (unless one is into such a thing, and not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Seriously, there are all sorts of pictures and video that one might end up in, whether it’s for the news or a family’s snapshot. If one is worried about being noticed in public, than one should probably stay home.
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 am
Michael Santo says:
Good points all.
Some of the counterpoints I’ve heard mostly centered around people … oh, say cheating on their spouse, showing up on film … that sort of thing.
My wife says, no matter what, she’s resigned to the fact that privacy is a thing of the past anyway, so why should we really care?
June 2nd, 2007 at 8:50 am
Jimmy says:
There is a huge difference between taking some vacation pictures, which only friends and family will see, to being able to be seen by millions of people.
As far as cheating, hey, that was a risk those people were willing to take to start with, don’t bitch about it now, I say.
June 2nd, 2007 at 11:43 am
Stephen says:
What possible beneficial service ? None whatsoever.
However, it certainly makes for a pretty damn effective planning tool that we give away free to any nation or entity which desires to harm the U.S. or target property or inhabitants. Have we lost our collective minds?
June 2nd, 2007 at 3:10 pm
MissingFrame says:
First of all, anyone who wants to harm the U.S. or target property need only to drive by and take their own photos, it’s really not that hard.
Secondly, if you’re trying not to be spotted, don’t go out in public. There is no such thing as privacy when you are in a public place.
June 2nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Thomas says:
The privacy issue is an interesting debate. Even though we legally do not, there is a certain expectation of privacy when we are outdoors.
I wrote a post comparing the take on privacy regarding Google Maps and Microsoft Live Search.
http://scissormonkey.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/google-maps-street-view-vs-microsoft-live-search-preview/
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:37 pm
anonymous says:
Heck, nothing is a secret anymore. See this http://corporaterat.blogspot.com/2007/06/license-plate-reading-with-google.html
June 3rd, 2007 at 3:50 am
» Google’s Privacy Policies Ranked the Worst » Blog Archive Alice Hill’s Real Tech News - Independent Tech says:
[…] There’s a huge discussion over Google Street Views right now, and although many say there’s no expectation of privacy on a public street, it’s still under much debate. There’s also a lot more that groups, organizations, and people are concerned about with regards to Google and privacy. […]
June 10th, 2007 at 7:28 am
wm161.net » Blog Archive » Google Street Views Paranoia says:
[…] My god, everyone is paranoid. Have a look at this article on Real Tech News. Idiots are saying that Google Street Views is a violation of their privacy. If thats the case, lets just make it illegal for others to view your building without your permission. Period. If I was photographed without my consent, why should I care? Whats the worst that could happen? When I’m on vacation, do I make it a point to stay as far away from other tourists as possible on the offhand chance I get caught in their pictures? If I do get caught in one of their pictures, I don’t immediately run over to them and let them know I did not want photographed. Naturally, they’d give me a blank stare knowing fully that I was not the target of their picture. They didn’t mean to get me in the shot, I just happened to be there. […]
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