The fuss over Google’s Street View

I hadn’t heard about it until it was launched in Australia on August 4th, so I immediately did what most people do and went to see if my house was there, and it was! I noticed that the photo was obviously taken on “bin day” since the garbage bins were out, and there was the car up the drive! I had a moment of concern about that then realised it wasn’t as if anyone could read the license plate of the car anyway.

I’ve since been hearing different views on this Street View thing and some have me chuckling. Really, what is the fuss about it? Invasion of privacy? HOW? You can see nothing different than if you were walking past the house on foot. Nobody can see me on the toilet, nobody can tell if I’m walking around the house in the nude, it shows the outside of the house and the car, so what!

I’ve heard people say “oh but now people can find me”…umm newsflash, if they have your address they can already do that, they don’t need a photo of your house to make it easier! It seems that Google Street View has opened up a new level of paranoia really, and that’s sad.

I read an article where some people are concerned that this might increase crime rates for burglary, I want to know if these people are left unattended during the day because that concerns me that they would even consider that. What do they think would be burglars are going to do? Sit and scour the internet looking for houses that “suit” them and then keep an eye on them to see if someone has gone out!

Can’t you imagine them sitting there watching my house, “damn, I wish they’d go out so I can break into the house!” Do these people seriously think it’s like a live stream? haha

There was some concern about one of the google cars driving past a house on fire in America, this really tickled my funny bone – no, not the poor house – but some of the reactions I’ve read. Now, bear in mind, while the google car was driving past this house, there were fire crews there working on putting it out. What’s the problem? Some people think it was bad taste that they continued taking photos. Well, that’s what they’re getting paid for isn’t it? What do people expect them to do, pull over, grab a hose and pitch in fighting the fire? Isn’t that the firemen’s job?

I did also read about a poor man who lost a close friend and after attending his funeral interstate and giving him a proper send off which sounds like it involved copious amounts of alcohol turned up at his mother’s house and passed out on the nature strip outside. “Smile for the birdie!” Yep you guessed it, he’s on Google Street View (though it’s said that particular photo has been removed). I must say though, I would’ve hoped that the car might have at least pulled over to make sure the guy was alright. But further shots down the street, if you pan the view you can still see the poor sod laying there!

And then there is the “Boring” family…oh yes, that IS their surname – who are trying to sue Google for having photos of their house on Street View, apparently their house is on a private road, they are suing for “mental suffering” and claiming that this has hurt the value of their home. Looking at photos of their home, I think their mental suffering comes from having a home that doesn’t look like it’s valued at much in the first instance! Read more about it here – No such thing as complete privacy. That article also shows a link to a public listing about the house in question anyway.

I’m beginning to think the world has gone mad, and paranoia is out of control! That worries me far more than the google cars driving around! Sure, some things could be left out of google street view but let’s not get too crazy about it people.