Comments on: Street View - a Google too far? http://recommendedbydavid.com/2009/03/22/street-view-a-google-too-far/ Internet marketing tips, news and recommendations Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:21:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: David http://recommendedbydavid.com/2009/03/22/street-view-a-google-too-far/#comment-902 David Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:42:51 +0000 http://recommendedbydavid.com/?p=473#comment-902 Hello Ali, Thank you for your detailed comment and I must apologise for the delay in replying. You highlight the dichotomy very well: if we want the freedom to roam where we will in Street View, will we accept the rights of others to do the same, even if the camera is pointing in our direction? Google has assumed that it has a global permission to film where it chooses. Although, on at least one occasion, it has been granted official sanction to film: I believe it was in Bradford here in the UK, that one of the Google video cars was actually given police permission to drive in a "bus only" lane. The driver was able to produce the necessary proof when stopped by the local police and waved on his way. For some reason, though, the image of the police car has been removed from Street View! Next stop a police state? George Orwell got just one thing wrong: he was 25 years too early. David Hello Ali,

Thank you for your detailed comment and I must apologise for the delay in replying.

You highlight the dichotomy very well: if we want the freedom to roam where we will in Street View, will we accept the rights of others to do the same, even if the camera is pointing in our direction?

Google has assumed that it has a global permission to film where it chooses. Although, on at least one occasion, it has been granted official sanction to film: I believe it was in Bradford here in the UK, that one of the Google video cars was actually given police permission to drive in a “bus only” lane. The driver was able to produce the necessary proof when stopped by the local police and waved on his way. For some reason, though, the image of the police car has been removed from Street View!

Next stop a police state? George Orwell got just one thing wrong: he was 25 years too early.

David

]]> By: Ali http://recommendedbydavid.com/2009/03/22/street-view-a-google-too-far/#comment-897 Ali Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:29:26 +0000 http://recommendedbydavid.com/?p=473#comment-897 Looking on Google Street View, I found myself trying to think of more places that I could look up to see if they had been caught on camera. Whilst I enjoyed spotting cars, houses and landmarks that I knew, the novelty "nosey" factor wore off to leave me wondering how many people had done the same but in my street? I appreciate that the sheer scale of the project doesnt allow Google to go from door to door and ask people to consent to their house being caught on camera but an "opt out" after the fact doesn't make me feel any better. If I ask for an image of my house to be blanked out but people can still zoom in close enough to read the numbers on my neighbour's front doors, it merely becomes the fuzzy blob between numbers 4 and 8 Example Street, it doesn't take a genius to work out where it is. Google has pushed the boundaries and, certainly on this occasion has tested them and started a debate. If I sign up to a website I can check a box to prevent my details being passed on to third parties, yet Street View puts images on the internet first with the option to remove them second. I realise that I have no doubt been caught on numerous CCTV cameras in shops and streets but that serves a purpose in (I hope) preventing crime/catching criminals. Street View has no obvious purpose, besides an aid to getting from A to B (for which there are maps). As for whether the images of streets and people's property available for all to view on the web is a step too far, only time and reactions will tell. However, the assumption of people's permission to do this IS a step too far. Looking on Google Street View, I found myself trying to think of more places that I could look up to see if they had been caught on camera. Whilst I enjoyed spotting cars, houses and landmarks that I knew, the novelty “nosey” factor wore off to leave me wondering how many people had done the same but in my street? I appreciate that the sheer scale of the project doesnt allow Google to go from door to door and ask people to consent to their house being caught on camera but an “opt out” after the fact doesn’t make me feel any better. If I ask for an image of my house to be blanked out but people can still zoom in close enough to read the numbers on my neighbour’s front doors, it merely becomes the fuzzy blob between numbers 4 and 8 Example Street, it doesn’t take a genius to work out where it is.
Google has pushed the boundaries and, certainly on this occasion has tested them and started a debate. If I sign up to a website I can check a box to prevent my details being passed on to third parties, yet Street View puts images on the internet first with the option to remove them second. I realise that I have no doubt been caught on numerous CCTV cameras in shops and streets but that serves a purpose in (I hope) preventing crime/catching criminals.
Street View has no obvious purpose, besides an aid to getting from A to B (for which there are maps).
As for whether the images of streets and people’s property available for all to view on the web is a step too far, only time and reactions will tell. However, the assumption of people’s permission to do this IS a step too far.

]]> By: David http://recommendedbydavid.com/2009/03/22/street-view-a-google-too-far/#comment-890 David Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:03:35 +0000 http://recommendedbydavid.com/?p=473#comment-890 Hello Kelly and Jo, Thank you for taking the time to let us know your views on street view. I must admit that I thought there would be more reaction to Google's new service. Perhaps people are just too used to having Google around. I understand that Google is being challenged in the UK regarding invasion of privacy. On the other hand, I read in the press this week that Google is already sending its cameras into other UK cities. That being so, it obviously intends for street view to survive. Let's hope that the powers that be can curb its excesses - at the very least I think the zoom function should be disabled. David PS Kelly, you may be interested in my next blog article, which shows how I put YouTube videos on my blog (it's easier than you may think). Hello Kelly and Jo,

Thank you for taking the time to let us know your views on street view.

I must admit that I thought there would be more reaction to Google’s new service. Perhaps people are just too used to having Google around.

I understand that Google is being challenged in the UK regarding invasion of privacy. On the other hand, I read in the press this week that Google is already sending its cameras into other UK cities. That being so, it obviously intends for street view to survive.

Let’s hope that the powers that be can curb its excesses - at the very least I think the zoom function should be disabled.

David
PS Kelly, you may be interested in my next blog article, which shows how I put YouTube videos on my blog (it’s easier than you may think).

]]> By: Jo http://recommendedbydavid.com/2009/03/22/street-view-a-google-too-far/#comment-889 Jo Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:09:54 +0000 http://recommendedbydavid.com/?p=473#comment-889 David, Google as you now will know is already being taken to task in the U.K. for the photos of children being used which may result in their safety being compromised. So yes, it has gone too far in this instance. I would have thought that Google would, with their financial leverage, have been able to receive legal adviceas to ewhat safeguards to attach to a new service. It does not have to be legal advice, anyone could have advised them on this. The thing is tht a service such as this can be available PROVIDED that all care is taken how it can be used and ALL measures are put in place to stop abuse in advance of a launch. David, Google as you now will know is already being taken to task in the U.K. for the photos of children being used which may result in their safety being compromised. So yes, it has gone too far in this instance. I would have thought that Google would, with their financial leverage, have been able to receive legal adviceas to ewhat safeguards to attach to a new service. It does not have to be legal advice, anyone could have advised them on this. The thing is tht a service such as this can be available PROVIDED that all care is taken how it can be used and ALL measures are put in place to stop abuse in advance of a launch.

]]> By: kelly http://recommendedbydavid.com/2009/03/22/street-view-a-google-too-far/#comment-888 kelly Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:01:11 +0000 http://recommendedbydavid.com/?p=473#comment-888 Hi David! I think it's great to be able to place live Google map/street cam views (and global maps) in general in a blog. But it is a hassle to install everything (not just plugins) for it to show up. I'd be very interested to know if there's an easier way to do it. I was told that if anyone had his picture accidentally caught on camera (photos) hosted by Google, you can write to Google to have them removed. (In some countries, hosting a photo without the person's permission is an offense.) Hi David! I think it’s great to be able to place live Google map/street cam views (and global maps) in general in a blog. But it is a hassle to install everything (not just plugins) for it to show up.

I’d be very interested to know if there’s an easier way to do it.

I was told that if anyone had his picture accidentally caught on camera (photos) hosted by Google, you can write to Google to have them removed. (In some countries, hosting a photo without the person’s permission is an offense.)

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