Valleywag
your privacy is an illusion
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your privacy is an illusion
google
Marissa Mayer blames pesky humans for Street View privacy problems
In a perfect world, humans would be encased in tubes, their body heat powering massive datacenters and their minds chained into a virtual reality that involves clicking on lots of text ads online. That's according to Marissa Mayer, who blames "flaws of the real world and human error" for Google Street View's many invasions of privacy. The remarks came in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald as Google prepares to release it's creepy-but-useful technology down under. But don't worry, they're working on an alogrithm to fix the problem — and if it's anything like the algorithms used to detect copyright infringement on YouTube, we'll be living in the Matrix before it's done. That is, if we aren't already.(Photo by Mark Levin)
your privacy is an illusion
Google Street View rolls into your driveway
They haven't filed a lawsuit yet, like their neighbors the Borings, but the McKees' privacy was seemingly violated by a Google Street View car that drove up their driveway, snapping pictures all the way. Janet and George McKee live in the only home on Goldenbrook Lane, a gravel path that leads directly to their driveway — where the property line is. The Google car drove up Goldenbrook and continued all the way up their driveway to the front of the McKee's three-car garage and basketball hoop. Whoops. The Smoking Gun found and contacted the McKees, who said they found the pictures "creepy." Google claims "it takes images from public streets and only shows photos of locations that are in full view". Well, most of the time. See the full collection of images after the jump. Worst position in Google's legal department right now: Google Maps counsel. More »
your privacy is an illusion
Couple sues Google over Street View pics of their house
This is the view that Aaron and Christine Boring don't want you to see. The couple — who live at 1567 Oakridge Lane, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, USA, according to their court filing — are suing Google over the company's "Street View" feature, which takes road-level pictures of neighborhoods for their mapping service. Among the complaints, the Borings — their actual name — accuse Google of an "intentional and/or grossly reckless invasion" of their privacy. More pics after the jump. More »
your privacy is an illusion
Google Street View rival exposes Marissa Mayer's posh pad
Even after a recent update, Google Street View's little yellow man wouldn't venture down Google VP Marissa Mayer's expensive alley. But MapJack's "Jack" mascot knows such privacy is an illusion. The rival to Google's 3D mapping service happily goes down Marissa Mayer's residential street. Below, see the street San Francisco cupcake delivery boys know so well. More »
perks
Google updates Street View in San Francisco, leaves Marissa Mayer's pad off the grid
We thought maybe Google barred its little yellow Street View man from Marissa Mayer's road by accident. But, as the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." Google Earth Blog reports that Google has updated its Street View feature with new maps throughout flyover country, as well as enhancements in the Bay Area. But did the camera trucks visit Mayer's little corner of Stevenson Street? See for yourself, below. More »
perks
Marissa Mayer gets a stoplight, and a room without Street View
A reminder: Marissa Mayer lives on the 38th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco, and you don't. With that address comes an unusual perk: Her own personal stoplight at Third and Stevenson. Mayer and the other residents of the concierge conclave have arranged to pay the city $165,000 for a traffic light at the dead-end street which leads to the hotel garage. (Remember that as you sit on a 9X Muni bus, waiting for the light to change.) Perhaps the light will make it easier for Google Maps, which Mayer oversees, to send a driver down Stevenson. Mayer has defended Google's Street View feature against charges of invading people's privacy — but Google's camera-cars have yet to venture onto her street. After the jump, minutes from the city meeting (PDF) accepting Mayer's gift: More »
your privacy is an illusion
Another place Google won't take you
The Pentagon will not allow Google Earth to show street level views of U.S. military bases, according to the AP saying it could aid terrorists. But Google is not above a bit of censorship itself. Just try and get a close look at the company's new San Francisco offices on Google Maps.
real estate
Google Street View won't show Google's new San Francisco digs
1,200 Googlers moved into their new office at 345 Spear Street San Francisco this week. We thought we'd use Google Maps Street View to show you what the place looks like, but the little yellow man won't go there. How embarrassing for him. Fortunately, Curbed SF will. Check out what $20 million can buy in four photos, below. More »
google maps
Sergey stymied: Prius doesn't work for Google Street View
In Europe, Google's on a massive hiring binge for the Street View feature of Google Maps, where camera-equipped vehicles snap photos of streetscapes. It's bringing on 300 drivers for the Switzerland-based effort. But the project has been held up by the whim of a founder. Sergey Brin, we hear, is insisting that the project use hybrid Priuses, rather than the staid Saturn Astra it used in Australia, shown here, or the Chevrolet Cobalt Googlers drive in the U.S. Brin believes Toyota's gas-sipping Priuses are better for Google's image. Just one problem.More »
google
In this video, Google Street View gets even more invasive. Call it improving geolocated search. Boo!
And you thought Google Street View was creepy before
In this video, Google Street View gets even more invasive. Call it improving geolocated search. Boo!
google
Google has introduced its spy-on-your-neighbors Street View service in more cities. Now unsuspecting patrons can be spotted entering strip clubs in Dallas, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, Valleywagger Tim Faulkner's hometown of Providence and my hometown of Boston. I've been waiting for Boston to be featured in Street View since it was introduced earlier this year. It's not particularly useful, other than saying "that's my house!" But, it's fun regardless. I do have one other complaint about Google Maps though. More »
Google Street View rolls out in Boston and other places that don't matter
Google has introduced its spy-on-your-neighbors Street View service in more cities. Now unsuspecting patrons can be spotted entering strip clubs in Dallas, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, Valleywagger Tim Faulkner's hometown of Providence and my hometown of Boston. I've been waiting for Boston to be featured in Street View since it was introduced earlier this year. It's not particularly useful, other than saying "that's my house!" But, it's fun regardless. I do have one other complaint about Google Maps though. More »
google
Avoid this Google Street View car
As Google prepares to add Australian cities to its Street View feature, Seb Ruiz has done us all a favor, publishing pictures of what a Google Street View car looks like. The vehicle is equipped with cameras to photograph streetscapes for Google Maps users. Now, if you see this car coming and would prefer not to be frozen in time at your present location — say an adult bookstore, or anywhere on the planet while carrying a Kindle — you'll have the chance to dive behind the nearest parked car. Here's the picture you'll want to memorize. More »
your privacy is an illusion
Google Street View to blur Canadians
Oh, Canada. With the loonie matching the value of the dollar, a bunch of our northern neighbors are crowing. Yes, yes. Wake us when the Canadian football field shrinks to a normal size, too. Anyway, the Sydney Morning Herald says that Google is considering meeting Canadian legal concerns over its Street View map feature by blurring people's faces and vehicle license plates. In the U.S., Google will only blur your face if you ask. Canadian strip-club owner Robert Katzman ">complained to the Wall Street Journal that the stronger loonie has his clientele heading over the border to Detroit's bars. Maybe Google's cross-border Street View policies offer new incentive to stay home, you hosers. More »
your privacy is an illusion
Even when you're outdoors and offline, it's impossible to escape Internet-based privacy invasion, thanks to Google Maps' new Street View feature. Google's roving cameras, though meant simply to capture streetscapes for the convenience of direction-seekers, have lensed all kinds of tomfoolery. Although Google has always removed identifiable faces or license plates upon request, if you can substantiate your identity — a slight catch-22 for the chap apparently caught breaking and entering — the company now says it will remove any face, license plate, or other personal detail it's notified about, without requiring proof of identity. Still, Google won't be proactively deleting faces, as privacy advocates suggest. It's like YouTube's copyright-infringement policy: if no one notices, it's not a problem.
Google Street View now removes faces, if you ask nicely
Even when you're outdoors and offline, it's impossible to escape Internet-based privacy invasion, thanks to Google Maps' new Street View feature. Google's roving cameras, though meant simply to capture streetscapes for the convenience of direction-seekers, have lensed all kinds of tomfoolery. Although Google has always removed identifiable faces or license plates upon request, if you can substantiate your identity — a slight catch-22 for the chap apparently caught breaking and entering — the company now says it will remove any face, license plate, or other personal detail it's notified about, without requiring proof of identity. Still, Google won't be proactively deleting faces, as privacy advocates suggest. It's like YouTube's copyright-infringement policy: if no one notices, it's not a problem.
