Removing Yourself from Street View Worse Than Getting a Passport
All kinds of images have managed to be discovered with Google’s new Street View, and some of them aren’t so flattering for those in them. There are websites and lists dedicated to pointing-out all of the cool, bazaar, and questionable photos that people have found while browsing through the streets.
Google has provided a way to report inappropriate images for removal, and it looks like a simple process, however it’s not. For example, if you found your image walkin’ the streets and you felt like it invaded on your privacy, Google gives the following steps:
- Locate the image
- Click “Street View Help” in the corder of the image window
- Click “report inappropriate image”
- Complete the form and submit.
Now the form is simple, it just asks why you’re reporting it, provides room for additional comments, and asks for an email address. Sounds simple enough, right? Well it’s not. One person who found his image and wanted it removed followed the process above, but then was required to submit even more information, including a copy of a photo i.d.!
Google really makes you prove that it’s your image that you’re requesting to take down. This is understandable, but what a hassle to have to go through just to have an image of yourself that was unknowingly taken, removed. Below were the requirements he received in order for Google to remove the image:
They even require a sworn statement! I’m surprised a Social Security number isn’t required. All I can say is that I’m glad that Google hasn’t hit the streets of Iowa yet because I wouldn’t want to have to go through the hassle of getting my image removed!
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Tags: Google
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its just all part of googles plan to take over the world..
It could be worse, apparently some people can be seen inside their house through the window.
Now, that is really a privacy breach, and spying someone inside their house in many countries counts as “voyeurism” and is classifies as a criminal offense.
Dang, here in the US they don’t even consider coming here illegally a criminal offense.
Good point…they have to start somewhere.
After all, that is a big task to accomplish.
I think that they should lower the detail in neighborhood areas because I think there is a huge privacy concern there.
Never thought about that…Google will probably end up making the laws in a few years anyways.