Google street view
23 March 2009
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On 19 March 2009, Google launched their Street View feature which is an additional feature of the Google Maps application. Street View has been available in America since 2007 and Google aims to have every street in the world featured on it.
This has raised some privacy concerns because Street View was compiled using several million photographs taken by cars and bikes driving along public roads in 25 cities in the UK. Not every street in each of these cities was driven down, so some images are clearer than others. Concerns have been raised about faces being visible and people being photographed in places or doing things that they do not want to be known, for example being treated in an ambulance.
Other concerns are that some registration numbers are visible and that Street View may pose a security risk as it can be used by burglars to work out how they can enter a property and their best escape route.
What should you do if you are concerned about an image in Street View?
If you find a picture on Street View that you are concerned about, you can report it directly to Google. Matt Brittin, Director of UK Operations at Google has said that the software used should ensure that all faces and number plates are blurred and not visible. Google also believe that you should not be able to see through windows in properties.
Essentially, all that should be visible is the outside of your property.
If you are concerned about a security risk, or simply do not want people around the world to be able to see your property, you can request that your house is removed from Street View. Whether this will be done by blurring the image or covering it up completely remains to be seen.
How do I make a request to Google?
When viewing each image on Street View, there is a link where you can report your concern. The form to complete is relatively straightforward. You simply need to identify which part of the photograph you object to and set out your reason for objecting from the following:
• Privacy – the picture shows a face, your house or your car or registration number
• Inappropriate Content – the image contains offensive content
• Other – security concerns, errors with location, poor image quality
Initially reporting your concern is relatively straightforward, so we would
recommend that if you are concerned about an image, you report it yourself.
What if this request fails to address my concerns?
If reporting your concern to Google does not result in the relevant part of the image being removed or obscured, you should contact us so that we can advise as to whether any further steps can be taken. This will depend upon the circumstances
surrounding the photograph and your concern.
Google does now have the approval of the Information Commissioner after various concerns about Google’s initial plan for Street View were addressed.
If you are concerned it is imperative that you act quickly. There are a whole host of websites dedicated to images found using Street View and these will only increase over time.