Is Google Street View a Privacy Concern?

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In summary, Google Maps has a feature called "Street View" where users can see street-level photographs of various cities. Users can rotate and travel through these images. However, some concerns have been raised about privacy as these images can capture identifiable information such as faces and license plates. Wired has even launched a submission and voting system for the best urban images captured by this tool.
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robphy
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Google Maps... "Street View"

Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...735243,-73.996761&spn=0.007479,0.014591&z=16"
In the embedded photograph, drag to rotate, click an arrow to travel.
On the Google-Map, drag the Orange figure to a Blue-Outlined street.

If you zoom out in "Street View", you can see that only a few areas are covered: New York City, Miami, Denver, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.
 
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  • #2
Here's the best Tapas place on the planet:

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9835/thompgrandeq2.jpg [Broken]

This is really cool.
 
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  • #4
It really is amazing how close of images you can find on google...
 
  • #5
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2007-06-01-google-maps-privacy_N.htm
"Google's street-level maps raising privacy concerns"

http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/06/01/1219256.shtml
"Google Street View Raises Privacy Concerns"
...points to
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/05/request_for_urb.html
Wired's "Request for Urban Street Sightings: Submit and Vote on the Best Urban Images Captured by New Google Maps Tool"

(It shouldn't be too hard to blur faces, license plates, etc...)
 
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1. What is Google Maps Street View?

Google Maps Street View is a feature within Google Maps that allows users to view and navigate through street-level imagery of various locations around the world. It provides 360-degree panoramic views of streets, landmarks, and other places of interest.

2. How does Google Maps Street View work?

Google Maps Street View uses a fleet of specially equipped vehicles, known as Street View cars, to capture images of various locations. These vehicles are equipped with cameras and other sensors that capture images and their exact locations as they drive along the streets. The images are then stitched together to create the 360-degree views that users can access on Google Maps.

3. Can I access Google Maps Street View on my mobile device?

Yes, Google Maps Street View is available on both desktop and mobile devices. On mobile devices, users can access Street View by tapping on the map and then dragging the yellow Pegman icon onto a street. They can also use the Street View app for a more immersive experience.

4. Are there any privacy concerns with Google Maps Street View?

Google takes privacy concerns seriously and has implemented several measures to protect the privacy of individuals captured in Street View images. All faces and license plate numbers are automatically blurred, and users can also request for their own property to be blurred or removed from Street View. Additionally, Google regularly updates its imagery to ensure that captured images are not outdated.

5. Can I contribute my own images to Google Maps Street View?

Yes, users can contribute their own images to Google Maps Street View through the Street View app. They can take 360-degree photos using their smartphone and upload them to Google Maps, where they will be reviewed and potentially added to the Street View imagery.

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