Google earth – is it invasion of privacy?

Google Earth is an attempt to put the earth online through maps and photographs. Lately they have added “street views” taken by camera-equipped cars that roam on the streets taking 360-degree photographs for display to anyone who types in the correct address, or latitude and longitude, or the other ways of indicating location that Google can figure out.

Google Earth has already captured people in a number of compromising situations. But Street View has taken things to a whole new level. With the launch of Google Maps Street View, curious users have found some relatively inappropriate images.

Some citizens express concerns over aerial information depicting their properties and residences being disseminated freely. However, lots of people consider that Street View in Google Earth is a great addition, especially because it’s now possible to view street-level panoramas right from the desktop.

The software has been criticized by a number of special interest groups, including national officials, as being an invasion of privacy and even posing a threat to national security. The typical argument is that the software provides information about military or other critical installations that could be used by terrorists.

Former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam expressed concern over the availability of high-resolution pictures of sensitive locations in India. The lone surviving gunman involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, admitted to using Google Earth to familiarize himself with the locations of buildings used in the attacks.

Street View shows nothing more than the details accessible from the street which is pretty true but nobody ever asked those people if they want to appear on such a popular web service. Meanwhile, you can also turn to the “Report Inappropriate Photo” button placed in Street View. Google has always been open to talks but some people criticized and even sued the search company for showing too much information on a free web service.