Comments on: Alarm At Google's "Street View"

Newest Mapping Program Includes Photos Of Unwitting Subjects

[tuckerndfw]

It appears that some people did not read (or comprehend) the story.

The images are months or years old. They are not real time images. The satellite images Google is currently using are years old. And, you cannot identify people or automobiles due to the low resolution.

Google using random pictures of people in public does not pose a threat to anyone. Even if the individual was Osama bin Laden, by the time the picture was posted, he would be long gone.

The uproar is a ridiculous waste of time and energy.

It is equivalent to complaining because someone took a picture at the mall and you happened to be in the background.

Stupid. Totally stupid.

[britski-2009]

"As of Friday, Diamond said she was still having trouble finding the right way through Google's Web site to notify the company she would like the picture removed."

It seems Ms. Diamond hasn't tried too hard to figure it out since it took me about 15 seconds to locate the Report Inappropriate Street View page. Give me a break.

Furthermore, I echo the sentiments of other posters that there are much more effective ways to "stalk" someone than by using Google maps.

Go Google!

[l8c6]

brucestevens, ....and who's to say drawing ones drapes will be enough to maintain privacy.

[ralan40]

If someone was really after a woman entering a shelter, it would be easier to just stalk them and not wait for the instance where the person may, by some chance, show up in a picture. Face it, we have no privacy, anymore. There are cameras, everywhere. In most cities, your image is probably captured dozens of times each day. Pumping gas, using ATM, grocery shopping. I'm sure if someone was able to tie THOSE together in real time, we'd have problems. We all "loudly shout" to marketing companies our buying behaviors when we use a credit card, for example. Cell phones allow the ability to be located. It is too late to decry any loss of privacy at this point, I'm afraid.

[bobnjersey]

[As long as Google's does not enter into my house, I do not see anything wrong with its technology. Why getting alarmed?]
[Posted by adian1 at 05:10 AM : Jun 02, 2007]

they're in alpha release on 'google idiots' (ignorance detector) ... no need to enter the house ... just fly by and the house gets 'colored' accordingly. measures all type of ignorance.

you ok w/ this too?

[gramto7]

"A9's photographic maps, which were abandoned late last year, raised privacy concerns about women being seen entering domestic violence shelters."

Oh RIGHT, like the detail is so great and clear you can identify a face on it- get real! The images are not real time either
Posted by newster1

I guess it didn't occur to you that women, and usually their children also, are not in the shelters just one night! They are usually there for several weeks/months. Therefore, someone hiding from an abusive family member could have been found and injured or killed by using those pictures!

[reel-crazy]

My nosey neighbor puts Google to shame...

[adian1-2009]

As long as Google's does not enter into my house, I do not see anything wrong with its technology. Why getting alarmed? Are we not supposed to behave with civility in public places? You want to sunbathe in bikini either in a public beach or in your open private yard? I do not see anything wrong in you doing so, nor in the technology that shows you doing so. I do welcome Google's breakthrough. And if incidentally it becomes another resource against crime, then it is even better!

[j_flood]

This feature of Google, plus other new and emerging technologies are troublesome - mostly from the rapidity of it occurring. So many of us remember nothing like the things we see as ordinary today just 20 years ago. In a generation or so it will become ordinary and accepted by most. Because we CAN do these things we DO. The knock-on effect from one invention has profound affects on another seemingly harmless endeavor. As a culture we embrace so many technologies with out fear of consequence. "Go gentle into that dark night."

[dbstevens]

I don't think Google is doing anything particularly wrong, but it does bother me. As fast as this technology is developing, it won't be long before we have to draw our curtains to keep voyeurs from peeking in at us from 2000 miles away. Sounds like an exaggeration? Well, look how far this technology has come in such a short time.

I don't like the overall feeling that we're "being watched." It's disturbing even if it's essentially harmless. And this sort of thing is leading to being watched constantly in all walks of life.

Things are just getting too weird.