Interesting articles below
1. Kevin Bankston, an EFF staff attorney, was photographed on his way to work by Google.
"EFF Privacy Advocate Sighted in Google Street View" :http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/06/eff_privacy_adv.html
2. He requested that his photo be removed from Street View.
"Want Off Street View? Google Wants Your ID and a Sworn Statement – UPDATE: Google Gives": http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/06/want_off_street.html
Google, at first, required a sworn statement and a valid photo ID, but has changed its policy. Now, Google requires your name and the location of the image you would like removed. |
> Google, at first, required a sworn statement and a valid
> photo ID, but has changed its policy. Now, Google requires
> your name and the location of the image you would like
> removed.
How does Google now want to verify that the person is authorized to order the take-down of the photo, i.e. that it's the same person that has been photographed?
And can I know abuse this feature to also remove my competitor's shops (by sending notices to Google asking for removal of people in front of these shops), in order to prevent Google Street View users from seeing the competition's store front, as that would be advertisement for them?
And what if too many people will now send notices, does that mean almost everywhere where there's a person standing, we now get the black screen with "this image is no longer available"? If that ever catches on, maybe Google will have to send their cam-vans through every street twice or thrice in order to eradicate all humans on the photos, with the same concept as behind the tourist remover algorithm http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2006-07-23-n36.html
Then we'll get less privacy issues though it's also less fun to browse "ghost towns" (though actually, more "static information" – like shop windows – would be visible, as the sight is uncovered by by-passers). |
Yeah, I agree that there are "flaws" in this policy and Google should update it so that people can't abuse this option. I would also like to know the answers to your questions, Philipp.
I think Google should just blur the faces (and/or bodies). We don't need to see strangers' faces when using Street View!!! There is ABSOLUTELY no need to see people's faces when searching for a coffee shop or a library, for example.
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