Google's Streetview Seen As Culturally Insensitive In Japan

Jim O'Connell writes "Global Voices has a translation of an excellent open letter to Google by Osamu Higuchi, explaining that Street view is too invasive for Japanese traditional values when used in residential areas. Having lived here for ten years, most recently in an older residential area, I can attest to its accuracy — Living in such close proximity to your neighbors, it becomes necessary to 'not look' at everything that you might be able see from a place such as the street, where you may have a legal right to be. The cultural boundaries are simply different than those of the US."

Comments

Sweet app

[tatermonkey]

The pic of my house does invoke a feeling in me. I feel I need to trim my hedges, it looks like crap. If you live in full view of everyone on earth on a public street why should you care if there is a pic of your house online along with your entire neighborhood? Privacy applies inside your home or within a "privacy" fence you put up. When I am in my front yard I know that everyone from the nosy neighbor to the CIA satellite can see me. Thats why I put clothes on on. I cant take anything seriously from a county that bans normal porn but its acceptable to draw a picture of a middle aged man anal raping a 5 year old. Sorry pedopan , get over it.