With mapping technology evolving, eventually we knew problems were going to arise. Google's evolving "Street View" has been implemented in parts of the United States, and so far has received good press. By using this interactive form of Google Maps, it can help people navigate their way around an area before actually going there. Street View is comprised of actual photos pieced together that can provide virtual walkthroughs of streets, hotels, and more. However, the European Union's laws on privacy are hindering Google's plans of implementation.
Peter Hustinx, the European Union Data Protection Supervisor, commented that “making pictures everywhere is certainly going to create some problems.”
There are many of us who do not want pictures of our personal details available for the world to see, and Google is now in a predicament to develop automatic face detection and blurring as Google's Street View continues to grow. For Google's Street View to enter the European Union, more privacy safeguards have to come into place.
When technology becomes more "personal", there are always issues that arise. How do you feel about Google's growing use of Street View, and our privacy?
View: TechRadar
Peter Hustinx, the European Union Data Protection Supervisor, commented that “making pictures everywhere is certainly going to create some problems.”
There are many of us who do not want pictures of our personal details available for the world to see, and Google is now in a predicament to develop automatic face detection and blurring as Google's Street View continues to grow. For Google's Street View to enter the European Union, more privacy safeguards have to come into place.
When technology becomes more "personal", there are always issues that arise. How do you feel about Google's growing use of Street View, and our privacy?

In many countries in EU taking pictures of your house or property, whether you're on it or not when you take the shot or include people in the photography, is illegal without explicit permission from the landowner.
On that note I wholly and completely agree with such laws.
That, plus it's all public property anyway. Google takes these pictures from a special car fitted with lots of digital cameras, so there's nothing they're seeing that any average Joe on the streets couldn't see.
Even if it's of someone's garden and not just on a street? These photos also use to capture such views every now and then.
I'm not being a jerk, I honestly don't know about EU laws on that topic.
Even if it's of someone's garden and not just on a street? These photos also use to capture such views every now and then.
I'm not being a jerk, I honestly don't know about EU laws on that topic.
Well that's what I mean, it's all taken from a car driving down the street, so if someone's annoyed about people being able to see into their garden, they should have a fence or a hedge up or something....
They're going to need to block out more than faces!
"How do you feel about Google's growing use of Street View, and our privacy?"
Google's stand on privacy is insulting. Their motto of "do no evil" is so hypocritical it's not even funny anymore. However, if one chooses to use their services then they choose to give up that privacy so it's really up to an individual if they want their privacy respected or not. If you do, steer clear of Google.
"How do you feel about Google's growing use of Street View, and our privacy?"
Google's stand on privacy is insulting. Their motto of "do no evil" is so hypocritical it's not even funny anymore. However, if one chooses to use their services then they choose to give up that privacy so it's really up to an individual if they want their privacy respected or not. If you do, steer clear of Google.
Are google's privacy policies any different or worse than that of Microsoft's or Yahoo's? What "evil" have they actually done to be hypocritical.
I'm not disagreeing, I'm genuinely asking.
Ok so what if I had a garden, would people really be interested in its contents?? I doubt it! (unless I had a missile silo or two). If you believe people are scanning the earth for your precious garden gnomes, you worry about very petty things or are quite paranoid!
Maybe you should read the article "genius", its talking about adding European cities,
That's exactly the point. It isn't legal.
As for how much private data is being captured by a single photo.... well that can't be much, i say the European union put it to the vote, logistically this could never happen but i bet the outcome would be in favour of Google, hell i'd even submit my own photos of my street (I live in London so have Zero privacy anyway)
**** off EU and die.
**** off EU and die.
**** off EU and die.
fancy some cherry pie?
Yes, you probably don't care about someone photographing your garden, but would you care if it was of you naked lying in your garden sunbathing? These issues are about balancing freedom of expression with a right to privacy, and in my experience you can never generate a rule which fits every circumstance. Instead, they have to be judged on a case by case basis and this is something that will never be achievable given the wealth of user-created content. Given that, I think Google will definately have to change some features unless it wants to become paralysed by lawsuits, some frivolous, and some with a genuine base for compensation.
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