Google Street View prompts legal action

25Mar09

And so it begins. The Google Street View service hasn’t been available in the UK longer than a wet week and already the legal action is starting.

Lobby group Privacy International (PI), has already made a formal complaint to Britain’s informetion commissioner, with more than 200 complaints listed to back up its case. Apparently people don’t lioke being identified on the service.

Not surprising when you think what Street View managed to capture. Like the man caught visiting the local sex shop. Wouldn’t want the wife – or the parents – to spot that. Or the person snapped puking on the street. Not to mention those whose arrests were papped by Google cars on their journey past.

But trying to get the service shut down whule an investigation is conducted is proabbly a bit much. PI is claiming “clear embarrassment and damage” to the British public. But do the majority of people have anything to fear from Street View?

I guess we’ll found out soon enough when Google photographs Irish towns and cities. The cars have already been spotted on Irish streets.

I am very glad I live on the second floor of a building, so should Google’s Street View cars come around, no one will be able to see the fact that me and housework clearly are not the best of friends. Not that I live in a cesspit mind, it’s just that I don’t feel a burning need to put away the ironing board after I use it.

Still, I don’t think the world needs to see that, thanks.

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Tags: google street view, information commissioner, mapping, privacy, privacy international