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Google Sued Over Privacy Invasion On Street View

Posted by Soulskill on from the by-boring-couple dept.

mikkl666 writes "A couple from Pittsburgh has sued Google because a photo of their house appeared on Google Street View. They are demanding in excess of $25,000 to make up for the 'mental suffering' and the diminished value of their home. Their street is apparently marked with a 'Private Road' sign, and they claim that putting a photo of their property online is an 'intentional and/or grossly reckless invasion' of their privacy. Google, on the other hand, claims that this lawsuit is pointless since anyone can ask them to have pictures removed without legal action. We've previously discussed some of the privacy concerns surrounding Street View."

9 of 481 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Diminished Value? by AaxelB · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't see how their home should suffer from "diminished value". Their home is going to be worth *more* if anything (more visibility = more famous = more value). It might be more of a subjective metric for "value." Their names are "Aaron and Christine Boring" (I glanced at TFA, so sue me), so more visibility = more exciting place to live = not boring.

    Especially after this lawsuit, they'll have to get the hell out of there to live up to their name.
  2. Ambulance Chasers by Detritus · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think the judge should have a big red button on the bench, connected to a solenoid and trap-door located under the plaintiff and his lawyer. As volcanoes are in short supply, a pool full of hungry crocodiles would do.

    --
    Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
  3. Re:Diminished Value? by schon · · Score: 3, Funny

    the fact that it is on a "private" road. Google's images demonstrate how little that is really worth So in other words, they're angry at Google for pointing out their own stupidity?
  4. Re:I don't like that defense by Megane · · Score: 2, Funny

    Third, I would love so hear how taking pictures of a property devalues it.

    I'd like to hear it too. Because apparently Google took pictures of MY house late last year, taking a picture of my old garage door with its missing window pane, and a big pile of leaves on the driveway. If they don't read my mind and update the picture the moment I think there's a problem with it, maybe I should sue?

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  5. Re:I warned them by MrNaz · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not usually a proponent of psychoactive drugs, but when objections to Google Street View turn into a geo political rant and ideological spleen venting about power politics in a war zone, then I think a Valium is definitely called for.

    --
    I hate printers.
  6. Re:I warned them by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, that should read: One does not simply walk into Google...

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    Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
  7. Re:They Should Sue The County Too by BACPro · · Score: 2, Funny

    As I was reading the summary and comments (article too!), I had envisioned a sprawling mansion with swimming pools and gates that keep out the paparazzi and keep in the polo horses.

    The photo presented looks like an opening shot from "Flip This House"

    I think I can hear banjos in the background...

  8. Re:Diminished Value? by aplusjimages · · Score: 3, Funny

    Remember Google did this intentionally to ruin this specific family's privacy. Or at least these people say Google did it intentionally. What Google should do is remove the house, but in it's place put an ad.

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    Can I bum a sig?
  9. Streetview can come *into* your house!! by danceswithtrees · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here is the proof. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9004971557883691425&q=google+maps+street+view&total=258&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2