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Street View and You

Friday, March 20, 2009
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Labels: European Union , Google in Europe Blog , privacy

1 comment :

  1. UnknownMarch 28, 2009 at 2:39 PM

    "Saying that Street View is enabling crime is like blaming the motor industry for crime because criminals also use getaway cars."

    A true PR/Lawyer "this is not my fault your worship" answer that I would expect from a company verging on being akin to Big Tobacco.

    Street view is PERFECT for criminals to case a property without drawing attention to themselves. They can determine the level of security at their target and look for attractive items regularly out the front (they would probably be regular items if caught by the Streetview car).

    If a burglar is walking down the street looking for targets they draw attention to themselves and may be approached by neighbors or law enforcement. Now they can do their research from home.

    Do you think armies start loitering around their targets making themselves obvious before they strike? NO! They do covert surveillance involving many facets of remote sensing and back room analysis. Where possible they AVOID having a man on the street and only resort to it when absolutely necessary for fear of alerting the enemy. Guess what, this facility is now nicely packaged by your good friends at Booble for the average domestic criminal.

    If you choose to avail yourself of the facility to remove your property from the Streetview database you draw even MORE attention to yourself as Booble highlights to the viewer that there is no data in that area by removing the nice blue halo. HELLO, that's like putting a big blue neon sign saying "steal from here".

    Google has lost the plot with this "service". Yes its cool, yes its dangerous.

    I can see merit for this in business centres and tourist attractions, NOT suburban streets.

    In 8 years of living in my place I have not had undesirables knock on my door looking for money or trying to case the place, yet in 12 months of streetview in Australia I have had a number. Why would they choose my place out of all my neighbors? It is surrounded by more attractive houses and obviously wealthier people! However mine is not in Streetview because I had it removed.

    And what can I do about it? NOTHING. I can have my place added again so its not as obvious, but then my security can be analysed by anyone in the comfort of their own home.

    The billionairs of Booble would have no concept of the fear the average person feels for their property. Their palatial mansions are behind walls which obscure a view from the street. They often have on site security to protect what's theirs because they can afford it. The lay-person doesn't and thanks to their complete disconnection with the average joe their "do no evil" mantra is lost behind "wouldn't it be cool" and "thats not my fault your honor, I was just trying to do something cool".

    UK, vote no. I will be lobbying my local parliamentarian, I urge you to do the same if you care for your privacy and security.

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