Google Street View Blocked in England
A villager in Buckingham shire, England has challenged the Search Engine Giant, Google’s efforts to capture 3D images of the town’s streets for Google Maps’ Street-view.
A blockade of residents formed in front of Google’s streetview car on April 1st, protesting that they didn’t want images of their homes on the internet, with information and directions to their homes, including what their homes look like, fearing that the service could encourage burglary in the area.
Paul Jacobs, 43 of Broughton in Buckinghamshire first noticed the car from his home, and ran out to confront the driver. He then gathered residents to help form and called the police to the scene.
Jacobs says the service is “not only invading our privacy but also facilitating crime”. He cited three burglaries in the community in the past weeks, and believes said “If our houses are plastered all over Google it’s an invitation for more criminals to strike.”
Google’s popular street view is a 3D version of Google Maps, which allows the user to take a 3D virtual tour of a street or neighbourhood. The 3D Images are created by a car driving around a street with various cameras mounted on the car to take pictures of the street to form a 360 degree image, and is later placed into the 3D map.
Google’s street-view is claimed to block out legible images of people’s faces and number-plates of cars, and whilst being a handy service, many privacy groups are concerned over the potential to abuse the service for wrong-doing.
Much of Washington DC including the White-house is removed from Google Satellite maps, amid security concerns, and it is alleged that terrorists used Google maps last year to plot the horrific bombings in Mumbai, which led to a petition asking for the service to be banned.
Paul Jacobs and his fellow villagers in Broughton will continue to oppose the service from entering their village to uphold their privacy, and more importantly, their security.
