Google's UK version of street view for Google Maps launched last week in the UK and has created a media circus ever since.The Google Maps feature, which allows users to browse through popular cities with a set of high quality photos, has created controversy and huge media interest in the UK as many fear for the privacy implications of such a service. Google has begun pulling images that users have found inappropriate.
The Telegraph is reporting that Google has removed images of naked toddlers playing in a garden square in north London that were captured on the mapping system. Google claims users can use the "report a problem" section of Google maps to report concerns about images or have their own house removed. According to the company these reports will be dealt with promptly.
The service has created a media storm in the UK with major broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4 focusing on the privacy concerns of many home owners. Google insists it has followed strict guidelines and consulted the UK's authorities on any privacy concerns.
The company has removed several images but we have compiled some British classics below (fortunately for British wildlife, Bambi hasn't been killed, yet):
London man puking up on pavement
Kids throwing stones at house
Where's wally?
London workers perv at Electric Dolls on a photo shoot
Taking a nap or slightly drunk?
If you gotta go, you gotta go!
Naked fence painting, an emerging British trend
Who lives in a house like this?
Lucky this mans face is blurred
Parking wardens out in force
Two red light dodging cyclists crash to a halt
A bin collector peers into another English tradition, boobs on Page 3
And these types of photos turned up when that was launched too.
UK =/= London. They covered quite a few cities in the initial launch, including Bristol (went to check on my house, of course
There is a majority of youth and a minority of adults that think it acceptable to get bladdered then fight, throw up then take up valuable space in A&E every night.
Well the politicians don't care and prisons are full.
I was in Bristol last Spring - my company has a plant there - nice town. And...I used Google maps which made it easy to find my way around (trying to keep it on topic! :-) ).
Though I must admit that driving from Bath back to my hotel in Bristol at night, in the rain, on the opposite side of the road that I'm used to was far from easy for an American driver like me - no matter how good a map I had.
There is a majority of youth and a minority of adults that think it acceptable to get bladdered then fight, throw up then take up valuable space in A&E every night.
Well the politicians don't care and prisons are full.
This is when a serious humanitarian starts thinking about giving such people a "purpose in life". Sadly, for a nation which has decried and diluted religion with Marxist ideas like "religion is a crutch for weak-minded people, is for noobs with no brains"... you get these "weak-minded" people roaming the streets inwardly crying for help, sometimes getting spotted on Google Earth.
Bleeding heart? No,
I'm just worried for a country that used to send missionaries out across the world now godless; now more willing to pass the buck and incarcerate, than pick up the pieces and rehabilitate.
I am sure it is the home of the same man that drives a tank to work in Brixton.
People fighting and throwing up drunk is normal for London.
I can't wait for it to be Britain wide, then I can see my street and pull funny faces.
Last edited by leesmithg on 23 Mar 2009 - 08:51
The pictures are from London, Oxford is in Oxfordshire, which is not London.
i was going to say
I pass by it often.
(Not a complaint, just a weird little effect of how the media/medium works.)
Secondly - all of these people felt comfortable enough doing whatever embarassing things they did in public. If they're happy to do it in public, why are they not happy to have it caught on film? The guy throwing up, the guy painting naked - if you're embarassed about it, then YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Screw them, and screw the self righteous and tardy journalism in this country - they never have any problems printing paparazzi shots of celebrities in embarassing or compromising positions - why should the general public escape such scrutiny?
We have 20% (1/5) of the worlds cctv anyway so I am sure that is what they get recorded on day-in-day out.
Last edited by leesmithg on 23 Mar 2009 - 09:08
One could also argue that Google is more honest about it in that anyone can then go online and see what they captured. I doubt the UK government will open up all their CCTV cameras to the web.
I don't see why people complain, it's not like they weren't in a public place when the pics were taken.
I wish they'd redo the images for Australia though, the pics here are really really low quality
I don't see why people complain, it's not like they weren't in a public place when the pics were taken.
I wish they'd redo the images for Australia though, the pics here are really really low quality
I think it's great.
I hope the pictures or updated on a regular basis, soon we could have live streaming shots.
Yes linky or it didnt happen!
I found ittt!
Screenshot of it here.
Last edited by Calum on 23 Mar 2009 - 11:18
I don't quite understand this one and the caption?
It's a sex shop, and far too many people are prudes
I don't quite get the traffic warden one, myself.
Oh, all I can see from the name of the store is:
Se Shop
Thought it was another dodgy store over there
The guy painting the fence naked is hilarious! I feel sorry for the guy being sick
It's good that Google are being quick to remove pictures which people complain about though. No one I've spoken to seems to mind Google Streetview - we've all been searching for where we live
It's funny that they caught that photoshoot though, whoever the Electric Dolls are.
Before anyone says anything, check my profile I am from the UK. Maybe we are just a nation of moaners? I know I am myself at times ...
You guys shouldn't be too embarrassed, though. This is what goes on over here:
ROFL
he got wet dream ! LOL !!
/jk
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