Google erases faces and license plates on Street View, by request
When Google Maps started displaying high-resolution images of faces and license plate numbers on its Street View, there were varied reactions from the internet crowd. Some embraced the technology while others criticized it and said it was an outright invasion of privacy.
What’s worst is that those complaints seemed to fall on deaf ears. However, it appears that Google has quietly changed its policy, according to Google’s vice president for search products and user experience Marissa Mayer.
Originally, Google’s policy was to only remove images when asked by the individual involved. However, Google has apparently laid down a new policy, and will act on requests to remove familiar faces and license plate numbers on Google Map Street View by concerned individuals.
Mayer told News.com that “It’s a good policy for users and also clarifies the intent of the product … we looked at it and we thought that’s really silly because that’s not the point of this product”.
Mayer believes that it doesn’t matter whose faces do or don’t appear on Google Map Street View, or whose license plate it is, as long as the Street View is able to display what its camera-equipped vehicles capture on the street.
Nonetheless, it is still a wise move to implement such policy of removing familiar faces and license plate numbers upon request. Otherwise, Google would most likely face numerous individual legal suits.
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August 23rd, 2007
Check out this huge gallery of Google Street View privacy invasions. There are an awful lot of license plates to blur:
http://streetviewgallery.corank.com
August 23rd, 2007
Google has made it easier to request take-down of Street View images, but unfortunately, has not made the interface for initiating the removal process any more intuitive.
If Google is really serious about ensuring that people can protect their privacy and security by requesting take-down of images, they should add a direct link entitled “Request Take Down” or “Flag for Removal” to the top of each Google Street View image.
Google has reported that very few people have asked for an image to be removed. This is likely due in part to the fact that there is no direct link from a Street View image to request take-down of a photo for privacy or security concerns. Individuals must know to click on the “Street View Help” link at the top of any image and then scroll down to the bottom of that box and click on “Report Inappropriate Image.” This is just not intuitive. There should just be a direct link from each image.
See our blog at http://www.aclunc.org/techblog for more information about our privacy concerns with Street View.
August 24th, 2007
I added here the most amazing Street View from the last update (08/2007): http://www.geo-trotter.com/cat-street-view.php