Boring couple loses Google Street View privacy lawsuit
Google Street View is a relatively new feature of Google Maps that has caused controversy amongst privacy campaigners around the world. So far, all of these privacy concerns have been rejected by courts and authorities. The latest affirmation that Google is in the right comes from a court dismissing the case against the search giant brought by the Boring couple of Pittsburgh.
In April, 2005, Aaron and Christine Boring brought a lawsuit against Google for invasion of privacy after their house was photographed by a Google Street View camera car. The couple argued that their street is clearly marked with a ‘Private Road’ sign and so shouldn’t have been entered in the first place.
The Borings bought their property in 2006 in order to take advantage of the setting in a private road. Unfortunately for them, Google added photos of their house to Google Street View in October 2007. They claimed this had lead to a devaluing of the property and mental suffering to them personally. They sued Google seeking damages for their troubles.
The U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania has now dismissed the case arguing that the Borings had failed to build a sufficient enough case against Google. Part of the dismissal filing (pdf link) reads as follows:
Although the Plaintiffs have alleged intrusion that was substantial and highly offensive to them and have asserted that others would have a similar reaction, they have failed to set out facts to substantiate this claim. This is especially true given the attention that the Borings have drawn to themselves and the Street View images of their property.
The court also made mention of the fact that by bringing this lawsuit they opened themselves up to much more public scrutiny, both of their property and themselves, than would ever have been the case otherwise. Basically, if they’d just followed the guidelines and requested the photographs were taken of the site, they’d be completely anonymous and no-one would know who they were.
I have some sympathy for the couple but taking legal action seemed a step too far and a bizarre way of maintaining the privacy they seem to hold so dear. Having won this case, it seems Google now has a precedent behind it that should ensure the legal fall out from Street View is kept to a minimum.
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February 19th, 2009
Clearly these guys were just trying to make a buck. If they suffered mentally because their property was shown on Google Maps, clearly they have other more serious problems they need to take care of.
February 19th, 2009
I agree with Roger.
February 20th, 2009
Have seen the occasional reference to this over the years.. Glad I popped in because it’s the very first mention I’ve encountered saying that people can simply request removal there on the website.. That cinches that. :)
The “private road” aspect sticks out a wee bit there.. (Most of) The rest of us respect these, but apparently big business gets the pass to flip us the little birdie on the same while in the eternal search for the almighty $$.. Surprised not, I am. :)
June 17th, 2009
“In April, 2005, Aaron and Christine Boring brought a lawsuit…bought their property in 2006…added photos of their house to Google Street View in October 2007.”
So, in 2005 they knew to sue Google for a property they would buy a year later being published online a year after that?
February 11th, 2010
haha, i think they meant 2008