Google withdrawing dozens of street-map pictures due to massive backlash - were they an invasion of privacy?

Source - BBC Website:-



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/79鈥?/a>



Now, if a man in a van drove past your street and took pictures, including your front door, your windows, or even yourself munching on a 6-piece bargain bucket, would that not be seen as a classic manoeuvre from the stalker's manifesto?



What makes Google so omnipotent as to think they can do such actions at will?



Is their new 'street-map' service just a novelty or is it really necessary - I mean was Google Earth not useful enough? Do you have any views on whether it is an invasion of your privacy?Google withdrawing dozens of street-map pictures due to massive backlash - were they an invasion of privacy?
I'm not too keen to make it easier for burglars to stake my house. I was shocked to see that not only the license plate number of the cars in front of my house but also my laundry hanging on the line were clearly visible. It is an invasion of privacy and potentially can endanger the ones living there. If we lived in an honest world, perhaps I would not mind so much. However given the high crime rate, google needs to be careful. If one person discovers that google street view had facilitated a burglary, he/she will sue the pants off the pair. I know I would.



Edit:

Google could at least have had the courtesy to request permission. They didn't. That makes them worse than stalkers and they are doing it for financial gain. Which means they are profiting from what belongs to you. Class action suit anyone?
People are free to post their pictures of public places on the internet. And there are plenty of such photos all over the place.



I see no reason why Google should be treated any different when it comes to posting pictures of public places.



Individuals should have the right to privacy within their homes. But the public does have the right to know about public places. And there needs to be some balance between the two. Restricting the public's right to know about public places doesn't sound fair to me.Google withdrawing dozens of street-map pictures due to massive backlash - were they an invasion of privacy?
I think it is just a novelty. You don't need this type of street level photography to find your way around conventional type of mapping is more than adequate. Its just a tool for people to be virtual tourists.

I think we should air on the side of caution why needlessly put peoples privacy at risk. Why not get some kind of consensus on this and regulate it if need be.





I would like to add that I think there is a huge difference between posting pictures on the internet and photographing in comprehensive detail peoples neighborhoods.Google withdrawing dozens of street-map pictures due to massive backlash - were they an invasion of privacy?
Omg I didnt knew about this feature, didnt work for me until now....

Google can get sued

seems potentially risky, too much privacy is shown with this feature



I can see my town,old house, schools, and even other peoples ads

I thought it was the most unknownwest placein the world.

Never saw the google vehicles yet theres a bunch of pictures
OK sorry but I bloody love it and have been addicted to it for a few days - I fail to see how can be serious issue in terms of privacy really..are the streets not public anyway?



If a stalker wanted to target someone seeing the image of their victims street is going to impact on that in what way?



I have found it really useful so far...in helping me be really really nosey.



Does this mean you have been collared on camera wearing a beret and drinking peach schnapps?
No its just a boring picture of a street , ppl dont know where I live because they have a picture of your street. I think the concern was about army barracks etc, like as if any one that way inclined to test security or make a statememnt has to google "army barrack" before they attack it!!
I think it is interesting and I wouldnt mind if I was photographed, it would make me laugh and will probably be the closest thing to fame for me :-)



I think if people are so bothered about burglers etc they should be more security conscious anyway, and people who get photographed doing things that they would rather peopledidnt see then they shouldnt be doing them in the first place.
I hadn't thought about it until i heard it discussed in depth on the radio yesterday..I think it's quite unnecessary and will lead to all sorts of problems..If i discovered my home was on there,i'd have it removed..If we lived in a safe and law abiding environment,that would be a different matter.................
Their invasion of privancy only happened for one moment in time - long gone now. The Google thing isn't happening in real time unlike cctv cameras that watch us 24/7, I think it's all been a big hoo-haa over nothing,
Not an invasion of privacy, no. I looked and my street is on it and you can see my flat. Unfortunately I was nowhere to be seen! Very Disappointing! lol.
if i could be seen on this google street map thing jerking off behind a bush then i would consider it an invasion of my privacy but since i cant be seen i guess its ok
if you are not doing any thing wrong then i can,t see all the fuss its only the people who have somthing to hide that is worried about it
Yes, I think it is an invasion of privacy. It's a bit too "Big Brother is watching you" for me.
They should not personalize.
If I'm not doing anything wrong why should I care.
We have enough people looking at what we do from so called elected

sources.Downing St and councils.We don't need it from unelected ones.
No I don't think so ........ anyway Microsoft Virtual Earth is much better, try it, it is a free download.
If you have got nothing to hide then you have got nothing to worry about OOPS where have I heard that before?
I don't like the "idea" of it all. it is so Big Brother to me.
Initially, I felt it was a really fun and interesting idea. I hadn't really considered what it might be like to be caught out on camera doing something you shouldn't. People having affairs, skipping school or work or even vulnerable people (such as battered wives who have moved to a new area to escape a violent partner, or someone who is trying to escape a stalker, or a vengeful criminal etc) could be accidentally exposed.



Of course these are extreme examples. I'm sure most people caught on images are perfectly innocent!



Perhaps the idea needs tweaking to accommodate British modesty a bit!
LOL we had the camera in the village yesterday. It was a total shock to all. We are so remote, yes the scenery is beautiful but you have to drive 50 miles over mountains to get to us, from the nearest main town.



Some we know well were waving, others were hiding lol. As for me, well thank god I was inside, as the hair wasn't straightened, not important I hear some shout lol well when curly it resembles a mop!!



The car went right passed our house, the cars, dogs and Gillon will be seen by all lol...



oooh and in answer lol...Well yes I think it's intrusive, I know they block out faces, number plates and street names, but it must be a shock to some to see themselves on the picture!!
yes it is an invasion of your privacy, but when people are out and about within the public, anywhere in their home and relative and friends homes. Or out and about anywhere on vacations. wheher if the unexpected photographed person is either famous or not, that is still a terrible position to be in. When the stalking photographers, are so rude and don't even ask for permission first, like they always should ask you for permission for photographs to be taken of you. since it is a piece of you in their camera where they can steal your identity by imposing to be you always Which this is why at times you can't aviod them, except to run in the any other ways to get well away from them. and call the law people and they would sort those stalkong photographers out. So it you can be safe and feel at ease with yourself and within your life too.