Their is no privacy in the age of satellite imagery. George Orwell has a similar view of the world in the book, 1984. Big Brother is watching.
Google wins Streetview privacy suit
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: Friday, 27. March 2009
Last April, Aaron and Christine Boring sued Google because they objected to Google's Street View feature displaying images of their house in the Internet.
Street View users can navigate down virtual roads, viewing 360-degree photographic images generated by drivers who scan streets with special cameras. The service is currently available to a limited degree in some North American cities and some major centers around the world.
The Borings objected to their house being displayed on the basis that it is on a road marked "private." Their lawsuit claimed $25,000 damages on the basis of "mental suffering" and dilution of their home value. However, the Allegheny County Office of Property Assessments, where the Boring home is located, includes a photo of the home on its Web site. As well, Google claimed in its defence that the Borings had increased exposure of their home by bringing the lawsuit in the first place.
Google is claiming that even private roads should not prevent them from photo-scanning street views. They claim that they should be legally allowed to photograph on private roads because "privacy no longer exists in this age of satellite and aerial imagery".
Google drivers have been accused of ignoring "No Trespassing" and Private road" signs to obtain their photo records. In some cases, Google has removed images from Street View is response to complaints.
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