UK Villagers up in arms over Google Street View

[remmy]

I remember photographing every house on a couple streets for an art project at college years ago, if only I had patented and stuff. Never got stopped but in quite a few photos you can see a few people watching through the curtains.

 

[brad.c]

I remember photographing every house on a couple streets for an art project at college years ago, if only I had patented and stuff. Never got stopped but in quite a few photos you can see a few people watching through the curtains.

Those are the dead previous owners.

 

[iphones4evry1]

It's on the homepage of Yahoo! right now!

Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090403/od_afp/britainitinternetgoogleoffbeat

.

 

[iphones4evry1]

I've never understood it. Pics of my house just went up (2 and a half years old) and I was more interested than outraged. It's nothing you can't see from the street (obviously) so what's the problem?

Exactly. People can just as easily drive down your street, walk down your street. Google is not doing anything that is an invasion of your privacy. I find it beneficial because if I am going somewhere, I can see what the area looks like before I leave my house. That way I can recognize the area and know that I am on the right path. Also, I think Google maps HELPS with security, because I can see if an area that I am headed to is a safe area or a dangerous area. Recently, my friend decided to not go somewhere because she looked on Google maps and realized it was a dangerous-looking area. She was then able to stay away from that dangerous area.

it's a picture taken from a public road.

Good point!

 

[kastenbrust]

I can understand, its like Google Shopping for thieves.

 

[bartelby]

I can understand, its like Google Shopping for thieves.

So do you object to people walking down your street?

 

[Chundles]

I don't understand it, there is no invasion of privacy, they're public spaces.

 

[BoyBach]

I know it's irrational, but I sympathise with the villagers. Google Street View just doesn't sit right with me.

However, if my house was on Street View I wouldn't ask to have it removed. I would just like to know in advance when the car is driving by so I can hang a message in the bay window... *Insert suitably evil smilie here!*

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Your house looks so rob-able. I'm so going to rob you now.

I've tracked it down on Google Maps so we've now got an aerial view too – looking at that, I reckon we should get in from the back. I expect there's patio doors leading out onto his rather nice looking back yard, so we should be able to jemmy those and make off with his telly.

There also seems to be an access road running along the back, so we've got a getaway route. I think it's a plan.

 

[gnasher729]

Google Street View of my place. Ooh, I'm terrified.

You didn't post your address, and judging by the palm trees, I suppose it is not in a rural area in England with the next police station half an hour away.

 

[Tom B.]

I loved the picture on Engadget:

 

[iBlue]

I thought of this thread yesterday when the Mr. and I got back from a long day out and I was getting my crap together in the car. A car with a big panoramic camera thingie drove by and we thought it was google street view. I sort of freaked out thinking I'd just been captured yawning and with a bunch of stuff in my hands. Turns out it was "just" a simple CCTV car. Oh the UK and the near constant video surveillance.