Since when is there an expectation to profit via photographic images, without compensation paid to those photographed?
Google asked to stop Street photo service
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: Wednesday, 07. January 2009
"It is necessary to warn society that an IT giant is openly violating privacy rights, which are important rights that the citizens have, through this service."
This statement came from the Japanese privacy rights group, The Campaign Against Surveillance Society, which is headed by Yasuhiko Tajima, a professor of constitutional law at Sophia University in Tokyo. The group are focusing on the 360-degree street-level photographic views of areas in many Japanese cities that are available on Google Earth in Street View.
The street-level photographic views are also available for many north American and European cities as well, for example: New York, San Francisco, Denver, Miami and Las Vegas, where there are similar privacy concerns.
Privacy concerns have grown in Japan after a number of people discovered their images on Street View. For the most part, it is difficult or impossible to identify individuals from the Google Street View photographs. Vehicle license plates are blurred and faces not detailed enough for identification.
However, it could be possible to identify individuals by a combination of general appearance, distinctive clothing, distinguishing markings on vehicles or other clues. The Japanese group led by Tajima wants Google to stop providing the Street View service and to delete all images.
In Australia, the The Sydney Morning Herald reported recently that local councils in Victoria State use Google Earth and Google Street View to identify 'illegal activity and breaches of local government laws'. One council is said to have used the services to issue citations for illegal building.
However, many people don�t see any concerns about privacy, claiming that if you are doing nothing wrong you don't need to worry.
When Google started photographing street views in the UK this past summer it raised hackles amongst privacy groups. However, Britain's Information Commissioner has issued a statement that it "is satisfied that Google is putting in place adequate safeguards to avoid any risk to the privacy or safety of individuals, including the blurring of vehicle registration marks and the faces of anyone included in Street View images."
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Mr Wizard,
Mr.Ress,
Since when is there an expectation of privacy on a public street?
