Tech & Biz

Google's pictures of UK go live (and you have no more privacy)

by generaldecay | March 19, 2009 at 06:34 am

702 views | 46 Recommendations | 15 comments

Google has launched the UK version of its Street View service, which allows users to browse a selection of pictures taken along city streets. Street scenes in 25 UK cities from Aberdeen to Southampton can be viewed using the service. The Netherlands version of the service also launched on Thursday, bringing the number of countries covered to nine. The imagery available comprises video taken along 22,369 miles of UK streets by customised camera cars. Google Maps users can zoom in to a given location and then drag the "Pegman" icon above the zoom bar on to a given street.

I've just 'visited' the street where I live on Google maps, street view. I saw my house, I saw my car, I saw the bin in front of my house, I zoomed in and I was nearly able to see into my living room and my bedroom upstairs.

And I felt sick! We have reached such a level of disrespect for privacy that we now provide images of people's imtimate living areas for all the world to see.

I don't care if this is a fantastic advancement of technology - it's dangerous, it's deeply and horribly intrusive and it makes me feel like my every move is being watched. Which for all we know could be half the idea.

I can't believe that we've reached this stage. But we really have. Just sick.

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Rachel Nixon

at 08:06 on March 19th, 2009

It does seem pretty scary. I suppose the question is: just because we can do something technologically, should we do it? It also raises the question of intent: what's Google's intent in providing these images? And what will other people's intent be in using them? (That cannot be controlled.)

generaldecay

at 11:10 on April 27th, 2009

Rachel, yes, it's the lack of control that bothers me. It's all so invasive. Thanks for the recommendation and comment (many moons ago!).

altrugon

at 08:22 on March 19th, 2009

This is totally an assault to our privacy, but don't worry, as soon some terrorist use it for their next move then it will be over.

That is how society works, we don't see the advice we see the tragedy and then we try to learn from our mistake. Of course if the money that we make is more important than the tragedy, then we keep going... what do you think, am I wrong, isn't this the source of tragedies such global warming?

Let's sit and wait :(

generaldecay

at 11:11 on April 27th, 2009

altrugon, let's wait and see indeed. Society may well go full circle yet and stop somewhere around the middle!

nyctuber

at 09:55 on March 19th, 2009

What's up with the tacky green carpeting? And is that an IKEA bookcase? Sheesh!

grayhound

at 11:02 on March 19th, 2009

Great for estate agents who want to show a house without going there.

Amy Judd

at 13:22 on March 19th, 2009

I can't believe you could see all that detail about where you live! That is crazy and yes I agree, super scary and way too far.

generaldecay

at 11:16 on April 27th, 2009

So much detail - it terrified me! Thanks for the rec/ comment back when I posted. :)

Pythiian1

at 20:20 on March 19th, 2009

I didn't realize that it can zoom in with such details... It is disturbing to say the least, and I think there ought to be some ethical boundaries to using such technology. It should be a concern to privacy rights advocates.

generaldecay

at 11:17 on April 27th, 2009

It was a massive concern to privacy rights folk at the time when it was released. It's all died down now of course but it certainly caused a terrible furore at the time. Thanks for the comment. :)

nyctuber

at 21:42 on March 19th, 2009

There was privacy complaint a couple of years ago against Google by a homeowner, and Google complied quickly if I recall correctly. I don''t think Google is anti-privacy at all, it's just the nature of photographing every road to make their maps complete. I'll bet if you voice a complaint to Google they will blur out your house without much hassle.

generaldecay

at 11:20 on April 27th, 2009

nyctuber, I believe many people did ask for pictures of their homes/ cars etc. to be blurred out or removed.

Fred Miller

at 06:57 on March 20th, 2009

'Dozens' of photos removed by Google by placing a black blank box where the offending image was located.

UPDATE by BBC at 13:46 GMT, Friday, 20 March 2009

Google has removed dozens of photos from its new UK Street View service.

The street-mapping facility launched amid a fanfare of publicity but now the firm has been forced to pull some of the images after complaints.

It is thought the pictures removed contained revealing images of homes, a man entering a London sex shop, people being arrested and a man being sick.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7954596.stm