Street View threatens privacy of individuals

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» IT Security NEWS

» 14 March 2010

Google Street View is a service, which allows the users of Google Maps to inspect their desired places through the 360-degree street level view of the towns and cities as provided by the pictures taken by the car-top cameras of Google. This is an innovation of the ordinary top-view pictures as presented in the Google Maps.

A complete idiocy that endangers security

Based on a survey conducted by The Telegraph, the new feature Google Street View is deemed by individuals as a technology with a sole purpose of invading one’s privacy. And, people believe that this latest Google feature is only but a “service for burglars.”

Dangerous versus the protected

A popular discount website, myvouchercodes.co.uk, carried out a one-on-one interview with each of the 1,300 persons regarding the up-to-date Google Street View.

Quite a number of the respondents truly believe that this Google service is a total hazard to the safety of individuals. As stated in the survey report, about 57 percent of the respondents view this feature as an invasion of privacy. In addition to this, 24 percent holds the idea of Google Street View as “a service for burglars.”

Rights of individuals were overlooked

Moreover, an astonishing quantity of seventy-three percent was irritated, not only due to the fact that Street View threatens their secured life, but also because their right for voicing out own decisions was also disregarded. This is based on the information that the people were not informed that the pictures taken by Google’s car-top will be posted on the service.

There are numbers of people who view the said feature as something which can put the lives of people in danger. However, about one-third of the respondents consider the update of the Google Maps as something that can be very helpful for the people.

Zero crimes with Street View

Robberies and crimes were the major concern of the individual who think that the service will endanger their safety. But with the report made by The Telegraphy, Thames Valley Police sees no increase in crime rate after the Street View was updated.

No law was violated in the process

Google had to remove a number of images, which contains pictures of individuals, due to the complaints that the service violates the privacy of humans. Nonetheless, Data Protection Act was not violated by Google based on the conclusion of the Information Commissioner’s Office.

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