An Example of Google's Street View Crossing The Privacy Line...?
Recently I wrote about the privacy implications of Google Street View after communicating with John Grogan (from Popular Science and Computer World) about this topic; see here and here.
Today I saw an ABC news video...
When the man discovered it, Google removed the image.
Obviously, even though Google removed the image, it is still out there being circulated and viewed.
What happens on the Internet stays on the Internet.
What the news program didn't report is that it was most likely against Australia's privacy law to post this image of the man without first obtaining his permission. Did Google take down the image because they were being nice and sensitive, or because they had no choice but to remove it under the law?
Would they have taken down an image a individual in the U.S. found objectionable and invading upon privacy?
Most privacy laws throughout the world require that permission (consent) must be obtained before obtaining images of an individual, which is a form of personally identifiable information (PII).
The U.S. does not have such a law, that I know of, that would apply to this situation.
What amazes me is how many people who've talked to me about this don't think that it is any big deal for Google...considered a cool and cutting edge technology company...to take these images in the U.S. and post them for the world to see. But, what if this was the U.S. government compiling these images and publicizing them in similar ways? Would many people and groups would be up in arms and protesting loudly about it? Based upon recent history, I would anticipate so.
So, a question to pose to you to think about...is it acceptable for an organization to do actions that appear to invade upon privacy if it is a widely popular and well-liked company, such as Google...but unacceptable if the organization is one such as the government?
Hmm...
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Comments
Hmmm... perhaps you should use the product (or maybe even just read a few articles) before you write about it. Anyone can ask to have their photo removed from Street View - whether they're an Ozzie passed out on the side of the road or an American walking down Main Street. Click the Help link up at the top right and see for yourself. No need for privacy laws. So kinda makes your post a bit of a waste of time? Hmmm...
Posted by: Jonathon | August 15, 2008 3:25 AM
No need for privacy laws? No need for privacy concerns, either?
And you clearly miss the point. It is not a question of whether or not Google will remove images; it is a question of whether or not they should be taking images in neighborhoods and into private property and posting without the consent or knowledge of the people living along those streets in the first place.
This referenced image is now on the Internet to stay, even if it is no longer on Google. It's still out there, isn't it? So what help link should Ozzie click to completely remove these images of him on his own lawn from the Internet? Or what button should anyone else click who has images of their homes, and often the contents of their homes and people who are in their yards and even seen through the windows, posted on the Internet?
See my original post, http://www.realtime-itcompliance.com/privacy_and_compliance/2008/08/privacy_concerns_of_google_wal.htm.
I've used Google Street View a lot, and there are many images within it that many people would not like to have put on the Internet.
There certainly are many privacy, and safety, issues involved when any type of organization puts wide-sweeping surveillance images on the Internet.
Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca Herold
|
August 15, 2008 8:47 AM
Let me give you a hypothetical situation:
Your neighbor sits on the roof of his house with a high powered lens and took pictures of your children and wife swimming in your pool?
Said person then sells those pictures to your neighbor.
What would you do?
Posted by: Robb | September 23, 2008 5:52 PM