Residents challenge Google camera
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
Residents challenge Google camera
Angry residents in Milton Keynes blocked the driver of a Google Street View car when he started taking photographs of their homes.
The folks in this town believe that Google’s street view is responsible for an uptick in burglaries and they think the camera is intrusive. I have to say, it may be the luddite view but I can’t blame them. Interesting situation.
As the video explains, you can pull your house from street view pretty easily.
I don’t like the street view for non-commercial areas. I find it very intrusive.
Just because you CAN (afford) to do something, doesn’t mean that you SHOULD. ;-)
Yes, it’s an interesting question. Sort of like having a cell number and being called randomly… I want my cell number pulled or blocked, etc. but why should I have to opt out, why not opt in?
The residents should have been informed that they could be charged with a public order offence and possible harrasment. They were in the wrong. They had no right to obstruct anyone from going about their lawful business.
This is Because of Google over confidence, Please try to control the Emotions.
Alex: I agree with you, especially since they’d have found out that Google allows them to remove their individual houses from the street view.
However, it’s not clear if this is the kind of thing where people should opt in or opt out.
Very interesting situation and made the main news over here tonight. What they didn’t mind is their houses shown on national tv, so I think they are getting a little confused ;-)
Yes, Google is entitled to film / photograph from the road, but a big % of people are just not ready for this kind of transparency.
Olympic Reporting: I don’t think Google is over confident, what they’re doing is legal although maybe a bit edgy in terms of privacy issues. My emotions are quite controlled, thanks.
Jon: So, let them block their houses. Simple.
hey, richard, un-control those emotions why don’t ya! :)
Speaking of privacy issues: in a very small and continuing survey of my young student friends at Uconn, I find it fascinating that they are not concerned with privacy issues. Their usual comment is “I have nothing to hide…”
hmm-m-m-…
sheryl: I wonder how many of them live in a city? There is certainly a different feeling about privacy and security among people who live in tight spaces (cities) than those of us who live more rurally.
What additional information is Street View providing to a potential burglar that can’t already be gleaned from existing global mapping or telephone directory websites (or just casing the location on foot)?
I think the idea is that this way a burglar can possibly see which houses have alarm systems without spending time on foot. That’s the complaint anyway.
I still don’t see how a photo taken from the street would tip off a burglar to an alarm system. These aren’t hi-res photos by any stretch of the imagination. My house is only about 30 ft from the road and you can’t even read my house number with Street View.
No, the burglary argument is weak at best. These people need to lay off the Google camera truck and buy a dog.
Bill: I have no clue about it, there’s no street view around here, if there were you’d see that I have a load of logs for firewood that need cutting and splitting. When are you coming by to help?