Cameras everywhere, even in online maps

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Hmmm...

To use some of your own arguments against you:

"No offence, but you?re thinking only about yourself and your own conveniences." No offense (I'll not use the British spelling, as I'm American), but the same could be said of you. You're thinking only about yourself, worrying that you might be caught in a less-than-comfortable situation (in a public place, mind you) by one of Google's cameras.

"Think about the people that could be negatively affected by this." I'd be willing to place a wager that it's a nearly immesurable percentage of all people who will be caught in inconvenient circumstances by Google's cameras. Consider this - a very small percentage of a given population will actually be caught on Google's images, and it's a good bet that less than one percent of THEM will object to their being on camera, for whatever reason. An even SMALLER percentage of that subset would have a truly valid reason (threat of physical harm, i.e.) for not wanting their image posted online.

"The article mentions the 'domestic violence shelters'." You're absolutely right - it does. The article also mentions that Google is taking pains to exclude images of those shelters.

"Can it inadvertently impose on your privacy? Absolutely." The same thing can be said of your neighbors, especially when you leave your windows open on warm evenings. They can overhear your personal conversations, or if the wind blows, they can catch glimpses of what's beyond the drawn shades. Should builders be prohibited from building houses closer than earshot/eyesight from each other?

"I?m not compiling millions of images of millions of public places in one centralized area that can be easily accessible by billions of people." I'm all for protecting one's privacy, but anything being picked up by Google's cameras is something you can see for yourself just by driving around in your car. Granted, several images collected in one place make it easier for any one person to find things or people that are trying to be obscured from them, but other than the amount of resources required, it would be no different than if they were to gather a bunch of compatriots to cruise the streets looking for their target. In other words, your arguments don't really work for me.

Again, I commend Google for removing or editing those images that are brought to their attention - in my opinion, they're going above and beyond by providing this service.

Posted by: Zeppo9191   Posted on: 05/31/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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