Privacy fears as Google starts to snap every front door in Britain

Claire Bates
Daily Mail
Thursday, July 10, 2008

Plans by internet giant Google to photograph millions of British homes and publish them online was today condemned as a “gross invasion of privacy”.

Google’s Street View website will allow anyone in the world to type in an a UK address or postcode and instantly see a 360 degree picture of the street – including close-ups of buildings, cars and people.

Critics say the site is a “burglar’s charter” and makes it easy for criminals to case out potential victims. The pictures also show people leaving and entering hospitals, health clinics, adult shops and hotels.

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Although their faces are deliberately blurred, many people could still be recognised by their clothing and hair colour.

The site was launched in major American cities last year and extended to the Tour de France routes last week.

Although Google refuses to say when the UK version will go online, cars emblazoned with the Google logo and carrying massive 360 degree cameras, have been spotted circling the streets of British cities in the last few weeks.

The UK’s data watchdog -  the Information Commissioner’s office – is so concerned about Street View it has written to Google demanding privacy guarantees.

Street View is designed to complement Google Earth – a collection of detailed satellite pictures that covers every square mile of the globe.

Users of the new website can either browse maps of towns before clicking on a street view, or type in an address or postcode.

The images show  which homes belong to wealthy owners, which have easy access for burglars, which have expensive cars parked outside and which have alarm boxes.

And although the pictures are not “live” – but are only updated once every few years -  the website has also raised concerns about people photographed by the roving cameras.

One image shows two men apparently gazing at a women as she bends over. 

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

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2 Responses to “Privacy fears as Google starts to snap every front door in Britain”

1. BeRealNow Says:
   July 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm

   Want to know what GOOGLE really does on the internet? Want to know who is spying on YOU on your computer? There’s more to this story…

   I’m so sick of government!

   Do you want to learn more about the EVIL government and what they’re REALLY doing to us? Come here:

   https://www.intl-alliance.com/forum/index.php

   These hi-tech folks at this site have the knowledge, experience, and inside information to show what’s really going on. This site is PRIVATE, it’s on secure, OFF-SHORE servers so everything is ANONYMOUS on their site; you cannot be tracked. This is their business!

   Come express your views. Your views are valuable. We need to hear from you there. Please? Check it out. People need to know the truth and share the truth.

   Thank you!
   

2. BeTrueSeekTruth Says:
   July 11th, 2008 at 4:39 am

   Hey BeRealNow..your BEcoming Real Transparent Now …thank you!