Google has had to pull images from its UK Street View service just days after launching
Google forced to pull UK Street View images
/v3-uk/news/1945224/google-forced-pull-uk-street-view-images
21 Mar 2009, Rosalie Marshall , V3
Google has already had to pull images from its Google Maps Street View tool, launched in the UK on Thursday, after a number of early testers registered privacy complaints after identifying images of themselves in the photos.
The tool, available for 25 UK cities, gives a 360-degree view of particular streets through merging photos collected by Google drivers using car-mounted cameras.
Images taken down so far include a man vomiting in Shoreditch and another man outside a Soho sex shop. Replacing them is now a message that reads: "This image is no longer available."
According to reports, Google has said that the number of images removed has been "less than expected".
"The tools are there for users to remove pictures they are not happy with," a Google spokesman told The Independent.
But concerns over Street View are not new. Before the tool was launched in the UK, a number of privacy experts had queried the service, including Simon Davis, from UK rights group Privacy International, who believed that Street View would break data protection laws.
"The idea that a commercial organisation could turn public images into profit is something that was not envisioned by the law," he said last July.
However, Street View was able to launch in the UK because the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), after discussing the system with Google, was satisfied that it did not breach the Data Protection Act.
The ICO said before the launch that "Google is keen to capture images of streets and not individuals" and that the all-clear had been given because the company had promised to blur number plates and faces to protect privacy.
However, because users are now finding it easy to identify themselves, the ICO has promised to investigate complaints, and Privacy International has again put forward its case.
"These images are being captured without people's permission for commercial use, and we believe that it is not legally acceptable," Davis told The Daily Telegraph. "They are also putting into place a system for updating these images in the future, and for storing the images digitally where they could be misused."
Google is still dealing with privacy cases in the US concerning Street View where it was launched in early 2007.
Last year, a high-profile legal case erupted when a US Pennsylvania couple sued Google for trespass and invasion of privacy, after the firm took pictures of their drive which was marked with 'Private Road' and 'No Trespassing' signs.
The couple said that the pictures had caused their home to diminish in value by $25,000, but the US court ruled in Google's favour.
Street View is also available in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Google and the ICO could not immediately be reached for comment.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Google Street Veiw
Home Breakins & Burglary Will Increase As Now The Theives
Have Better Technology To Check Out Ther New Targets.
Olso The Local Councils Will Be Using This To ReValue
Council Tax Etc Etc
Posted by helen.k, 21 Mar 2009
No right to privacy in public
I can see no problem with Google Street View in relation to privacy of the individual. Whether it is a commercial organisation or not there has always been the tenet that photography on a public street is fair game. Indeed UK programmes such as Road Wars and Street Wars, with cameras shadowing police personnel use this to their advantage. Whenever a "suspect" complains that it is against his or her rights they are correctly told that as they are on a public road there is no expectation of such privacy.
Google has removed images where persons shown believe they identifiable and this is all that should be expected
Posted by Paul Williams, 21 Mar 2009
What you see in everyday life ?
The street view images are obviously taken as 'genuine' map aids - if you were driving down a street and saw a man being sick or looking in a sex shop you would still see it but for real ! so how can a recorded image be any worse ?
Keep up the good work - it's a massive step forward for mapping and something I had always dreamed of.
Posted by Paul Southwick, 21 Mar 2009
WRONG POSTAL CODE AND AREA
Please note Queensbury, west yorkshire, is NOT part of Bingley, Queensbury is some 10 miles away and is BD13 not BD16. Please correct your records. When you insert Greenhill Lane, Bingley BD16. It is responded by Greenhill Lane, Queensbury, BD16. Your postal costs as totally wrong.
Posted by Pauline Collins, 21 Mar 2009
what is the problem
i think street view is a great idea,some people will try and find fault with everything,what is the problem if you arn't doing anything illegal,it's not real time so what does it matter if you recognise yourself,most other people probably wouldn't be that interested,i would love to see one of myself and family walking down the street what harm can it do ?.There are plenty of sights on the internet need more policing to better protect our children and nothing is done about them.Street view will be very helpful and also lots of fun.The killjoys must have been up to no good.
Posted by Liz Hornby, 21 Mar 2009
it is just for show but not public use
these street maps are not much use. people need geographical location for navigation not to see personals. it is shame that goverment are allowing such images to disply for public use. it is not important that people identified thenself but how what is the meaning to disply such photos , otherwise all CCTV images are worth for public use!
Posted by amigo, 21 Mar 2009
Oooops we have bigger bro.......
Life in the raw..........yes lets have it, about time we de sanitised our lives show our kids family what relly happens on our streets, wise them up cut crime and help victims before it happens all for it, dont let red tape grind us into the dirt, double edged swords every where we turn, get used to it.
Posted by Kev, 21 Mar 2009
Compensation for "image rights"
As a photographer, I have a reasonable understanding of the law in this area, and the concept of public domain.
However my concern is that Google may well earn revenue from the commercial use of my property's image. Commercial use that I have not sanctioned. Surely I hold the "image rights" and as such, Google should compensate me accordingly?
Posted by Steve Ringham, 23 Mar 2009
Google policy not good enough
Withdrawing pics of people after they have complained is not good enough.
People who do not have a computer or are not into this technology get their image online without realising it, therefore do not get to object.
Posted by R ARIS, 24 Mar 2009
It's the future but the privacy kinks should have been avoided!
The street view mapping that is now available was inevitable and I am pleased that is available. As being a person with little directional sense to actually see a destination for real is a welcome aid to my confused navigational skills. The issue that has arisen with seeing people on some of the pictures is a huge one, as although it is a public place that is being recorded, it does seem a touch big brother to be able to recognise individuals. A recent example is the woman who moved homes to escape a violent partner and was pictured outside her new home, its a small chance that any danger would have occured but its creating vunerability that could have been avoided with the ICO making stricter regulations. Google should take responsibility to make certain that people cannot be recognised. The individuals have not signed up to a disclaimer to waive their privacy as is the case on facebook and other public domain devices.
Posted by InurFace, 24 Mar 2009
Just because you recognise yourself
Doesn't mean others will, especially once blurred. You have the advantage that you are looking for your self in areas where you know you have been. You know what you wear and what those around you might have been wearing.
Others will mostly see a blurred image in a place they are looking at. Without the references that you have it would be harder to identify you.
Posted by Richard, 26 Mar 2009
Yeah, sure a GREAT privacy concern
Hypocrites. First you place thousands of CCTVs around the London, then you make random house searches, finally you spy on whole online traffic from and to UK. Of course everything "for the good of society, fighting the terrorism and cutting crime". OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE !!!!!! There's no ******* point trying to criticize another Google service only because you think it's "evil". YOU DID SIMILAR THING ALREADY AND NOBODY COMPLAINED !!! That's like US capital punishment - when Gov does it - everything fine and you even get a bonus for a number of prisoners executed. When someone else does it - it's bad, bad thing (sarcasm). Of course taking photos of me isn't a so offensive, but also a serious thing. You know, I don't care anymore. I'm gonna put together my last bits of patience and willpower left to protect my sanity and privacy in this ******* insane, braindead and brainwashed world.
BTW. To everyone who still believes this is evil - Google takes images rarely if not only once. CCTV is monitoring you constantly, on the other hand. It also records your face, unlike Google. Which of these is more evil? - decide for yourself.
Posted by Anonymous, 02 Apr 2009
google is not cctv
cctv may be a legitimate govt or security organization with its rules and boards and a duty to protect citizens while google is a company with plain profit motives. Did google stand for election and got voted by people to Today google, tomorrow someone else. Even in information age privacy is something that is valuable and should be respected. Will google's founders or employers accept if microsoft or any other company violates their privacy and makes money of of it.These are some of the projects that should not go beyond the review phase and hope google realizes that.
Posted by good web control, 04 Apr 2009
Quick! Hide your house!
Hey, watch out! I saw someone driving down your road and they were looking! If I was going to burgle a house I would case the joint from a car. Seeing a window open 3 years ago on Steatview is not much use. As for the council revising tax values, they may have cars too but lets hope not. This is just great fun. I can see every house I have lived in without leving home. How cool s that? As for google making money, I expect it will be a while before they recover their costs from photographing my house. And my van number plate is clearly visible. But you know what? I really don't care. Life is just too short. Enjoy this excellent toy.
Posted by Deak, 15 Mar 2010