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Google’s new Street View service, launched
in March 2009, has received a mixed reaction
from the British public and reopened the
debate over privacy and the Big Brother
society.
The technology certainly delivers a wow
factor. For the past year, specially adapted
Google camera cars have been combing the
streets of our major towns and cities
capturing thousands of images that have been
compiled to produce 360-degree views of
these areas. Looking up an address using
Google Maps no longer produces a simple two
dimensional plan. Instead, areas that have
been surveyed can now display images of the
street itself enabling the browser to enjoy
a virtual stroll down the road taking in the
local sights.
Supporters of Google Street View say it
brings traditional street maps to life and
point to the practical benefits for users
such as house hunters who, as well as
searching the physical location of their
prospective properties, can now form a
better impression of local neighbourhoods.
Certain advocates have gone so far as to
hail the system a ‘historical snapshot of a
bygone era’, since many of its images were
obtained before the recession wiped
household names like Woolworths from our
high streets.
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However, Street View has also
attracted many critics who see it as
a gross invasion of privacy. Some
opponents of the system have argued
it poses a security risk to
householders whose properties can
now be targeted more easily by
burglars. Others have objected to
the subject matter of certain
photographs such as men who have
been photographed entering sex shops
and young children who have been
pictured playing naked in their
gardens. |
"We recognise that people do have
some concerns in terms of privacy
but this is the sort of level of
detail you would get from driving
down a road,
the sort of picture you would see in
an estate agent's window."
Ed Parsons
Geospatial technologist - Google |
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In the United States, where Google
launched its service two years ago,
the Internet giant was sued by a
Pittsburgh couple who claimed that
Street View was a reckless invasion
of their privacy. Mr and Mrs Boring
(honestly!) stated that pictures had
been taken beyond a sign marked
"private road", which had resulted
in "mental suffering" and diluted
their home value. But their claim
was not upheld.
Google has certainly shown some
consideration to issues of privacy.
Its technology automatically blurs
faces and car registration plates
and only buildings that are readily
accessible from the street are
featured – so the front door of 10
Downing Street can not be seen as it
stands behind a guarded gate.
Google’s geospatial technologist Ed
Parsons commented: "We recognise
that people do have some concerns in
terms of privacy but this is the
sort of level of detail you would
get from driving down a road, the
sort of picture you would see in an
estate agent's window."
The debate is set to continue but if
in the meantime you are concerned
about your own property, rest
assured that every single image
contains a "Report a concern" link.
So if you feel you can be identified
in a photo or wish your property to
be removed, you can apply for areas
of an image to be blanked out.
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Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7JB |
Tel:
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