Slashdot Mirror
Woman Sues Google Over Street View Shots of Her Underwear
Kittenman writes "The Telegraph (and several US locals) are covering a story about a Japanese woman who had her underwear on the line while the Google car went past. She is now suing Google: 'I was overwhelmed with anxiety that I might be the target of a sex crime,' the woman told a district court. 'It caused me to lose my job and I had to change my residence.'"
... don't leave them in public view to begin with?
Maybe stop hanging your underwear in full public view?
If this was you, would you have reacted this way? Or do you think this woman is just looking for attention and/or a payday? Does the dominant paradigm of her ethnicity have anything to do with this?
:-)
Also, first post!
Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
It seems hard to imagine that the woman expected her delicates to stay completely private when she hung them up for the entire world to see.
Congragulations, miss. The entire readership of /. will now see your underwear.
Well done.
Sent from my CR-48
She wasn't wearing them at the time, so who cares?
I was worried about this as well, so I stopped wearing underwear. Problem solved. You're welcome
for all the world to see. Would she not be afraid of a random passerby seeing her underwear and becoming violently sexually aroused? I mean, the guy (or girl, to be fair) is already in physical proximity, unlike the millions of imaginary horny dudes looking at it over the internet (and seriously, they have better content to watch).
I understand not wanting pictures of your underwear online, but she didn't seem to have a problem hanging it in her front yard.
In my eyes, any legitimacy she had was lost when she sued first instead of just asking to have it blurred or removed.
Come on Slashdot...
Stop feeding the crazies. I hope Google counter-sues her frivolous ass into the poorhouse.
There is a war going on for your mind.
'I was overwhelmed with anxiety that I might be the target of a sex crime,' the woman told a district court. 'It caused me to lose my job and I had to change my residence.'
Even ignoring the fact that the woman's underwear was apparently visible from the street in the first place and it never bothered her. This reeks of unhealthy paranoia to me, is Google really responsible for one woman's mental issues? Granted, this thinking is exactly what the modern media creates, the idea that the world is filled with kidnappers, rapists, and violence. It's ironic that there are fewer murders than ever in US history, the kidnapping rate is lower than it was in 1940, and the overall violent crime rate sets new record lows every year (maybe not since the recession, but I haven't heard).
I know many people are saying that she should not have left them out to dry in public view. She made her mistake long before that.
She is in Japan. She shouldn't have washed them in the first place; instead she could have sold them for a nice profit.
It's still better to HAVE underwear that to have NO underwear ... So why would she be was "overwhelmed with anxiety" ???
This is just about money ...
I'm not aware of the laws outside the US, but that line is loaded. In the US, sexual harassment is the only crime that is judged by, not on the intention of the accused, but the perception of the accuser. There is the allowance for a measure of common sense when asking "would a reasonable, normal person be offended in this way" which is introduced, but no company is going through a sex crimes trial before settling. It just isn't happening. Can someone comment as to these laws in Japan?
Where genius and insanity become confused true wisdom is found
You remember how Google was fined for $1 recently on a similar privacy violation case regarding Street View? I'm no lawyer, but if I understand the American legal system right, that was precedent, and now further Street View privacy cases will have similarly "high" rewards for the people initiating them.
Hyperbole: I use it liberally!
I don't understand why people are so unsympathetic here. Granted, she is probably being overly sensitive, and yes, she did put her undies on public display. But there is a difference between the attention of your neighbors, with whom you have some kind of dynamic relationship, and the whole rest of the world, over whom you have no influence, social or direct.
I think we have start becoming sensitive to the impact of world-wide public display, just as we rightfully expect governments and private enterprises to become more sensitive to our data.
... that she might miss out on a chance to sue a big company for a whole lot of money she doesn't deserve, by feigning distress. I'm sure nobody involved thinks it's anything other than BS, but they're probably hoping Google will settle.
Flapping her underwear around like a flag in public, tramp.
Apparently she's all right with all the local boys eyeballing her dainties.
But draws the line at some gaijin interweb pervert getting cheap thrills at her expense.
Hey, this is Japan , we're talking about. Fukuoka, even.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Maybe she should have clicked that link to notify google about something on the image needs to be edited out or removed?
Maybe she should have called google or sent them an email/letter/RFC2549 to say "HEY! This is displaying my underwear, I fear some perv might think I am a woman living alone and come do something horrible to me!"
I'm sure the people at Google would be sensitive enough to nix the picture or edit out the washing from the picture to her satisfaction.
But no, suing is going to make it better?
then couldn't everyone else who drove by her residence? If she is not worried about the public seeing her underwear then why is she worried about the public seeing her underwear?
Shouldn't it be in "your rights on line"?
The photo in tfa is way too well composed to be "real" and is obviously just a stock photo. Where's the actual photo that was the source of the complaint? Maybe there's some specific article of clothing in it that explains why the woman is so upset?
My god! That woman owns underwear..... Fire her, Smithers.
...really? Job loss?
Japan has a problem with womens' underwear thefts. Don't hang it outside there.
that is what the bathroom shower curtain rod is used for.
For every benefit you receive a tax is levied. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
That is MY underware!
That'll teach her to air her dirty laundry in public!
(N.B. This joke would actually be funny if the laundry actually was dirty)
Summation 2
Thieves prefer them... scented.
Your yard is only noticed by passing cars going by the area or people driving by. A specific yard is only seen on google street view by someone who is planning a route to drive through the area. specifically looking for a house near or around that area. Your privacy on google street is about equal to your privacy in the real world. There is probably pretty equal number of people looking at that specific yard in google street view, as there are driving past it, actually possibly more, because if someone is planning a route or something, they would only have motivation to go into street view near where they are planning on leaving their car and not on most random streets. We have privacy in more or less publicly viewable places, due only to having very large masses of data that we are lost in the noise. With the exception of to tracking and advertising bots designed to sift through that noise we have the same privacy on the internet.
So she's suing Google for a little over $7000... is that a lot in Japan? My instincts say no.
Why is this filed under "idle"? This is important shit.
Anyone got the woman's pics?
Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
Hypothetical situation: Amateur photographer sees her underthings on the line, sees the framing, thinks it makes a good shot. Posts it online, wins some flickr award, gets lots of attention (remember, hypothetical!). The rest plays out as normal.
Does she deserve more, less or the same amount of sympathy?
So far, everyone seems to be concluding that this woman is some sort of nut and/or lawsuit-happy money-grabber. Honestly, I agree with that given the evidence shown so far, but everyone deserves some level of defense.
This woman is making at least one claim that can be tested - that she lost her job due to this. It would be rather simple to find out if this was the case - ask her ex-boss if he fired her over them, find out if she was shunned by coworkers over the images, etc. Most cases of people suing over trivialities involve less testable claims. As such, either she's not good at trolling the legal system, or she's got more of a case than we've assumed. After all, Japan is a much different culture than America or Europe - something like this could actually be a big deal over there. I honestly don't know. So, I'm going to wait for more info before making any sort of final judgement.
'It caused me to lose my job and I had to change my residence.' "
Because you know the details on Google Street View are just SO good that we could even tell you had underwear on the line. Shoot, TFA says that she lived in an apartment building. I mean, was there a pixilated blur in the background or something? And if she REALLY had a problem with this, all she had to do was file a complaint with Google. TFA actually says that Google had already replaced the image by the time she filed the lawsuit.
Regardless of what so many seem to believe, I think it's a ridiculous lawsuit. If she wanted no one to see them, she should have hung her underclothes somewhere where no one would see them whilst not intruding upon her property.
It's not like the google street view van entered her property and took pictures. It was unintentional sure, but it was perfectly legal. She publically displayed underwear, even though they were situated upon private property. It's perfectly legal to take pictures of it and do whatever you feel with them.
Just the way your front door or your garden might be situated on private property, but the reason you keep it painted or the reason you mow the lawn is because you're displaying it publicly. She needs to take a deep breath, swallow, and then set out on an arduous long journey toward getting a life!
She has no case. I can't see what all the confusion here is about. :|
Geekism is your _only_ God!
She says it caused her to lose her job, but the article fails to actually make the connection between the two. She didn't lose her job until after *SHE* discovered the photo, but there's a good chance that the photo had been there for quite some time before she noticed it... what, exactly, is her basis for presuming that the photo caused her to lose her job? Even if the existence of the photo is causally related to her losing her job, would it not be much more likely that it was her reaction to the photo, rather than the picture itself that could have precipitated her unexpected change in employment status?
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Doesn't mean anyone owes you an apology
Doesn't mean anyone owes you money
there's a difference between the olden days when some random passer-by or a lone person with a camera might see or record your undies on the line.
This is the 21st century , now we have hunter-killer blimps cruising around, taking pictures every five feet and recording everything for posterity. And to make matters worse, it all gets put into cyberspace where everbody with access to a computer will be looking at it and compulsively stroking one out like some sort of bloodshot-eyed gibbon in a Skinner box.
(ok, maybe I exagerate a little for effect. But I have the facts essentially correct.)
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Just sayin...
Word game?
The only justification for even a shred of sympathy is if the photographer or photo for some reason expressed the source of the photo as identifiable back to the individual. Short of that, no reasonable person can really say that there is any sort of damages or distress caused by an apparent random photographing of 'could be anyones' clothing. This lady has a paranoia issue or a money grab issue(maybe both). Simple as that.
This is rediculous. Are all of the ladies who recognize themselves on upskirt.com going to sue them as well? Where do you draw the line?
Sorry, my stance is this: If it's publicly viewable it's fair game. That's why I wear pants and dry my laundry in a clothes dryer.
the whole rest of the world, over whom you have no influence, social or direct.
And that's just it: you have no influence, nor they over you. In a sense, your underwear is more private on Google Street View than it is on the street. The people who see the underwear on the street are your friends and neighbors. You'll interact with them after they've seen your underwear.
The imagined voyeurs are on Google Street View might in fact be real people, but you don't know them and will never meet them. In fact, the odds are that they don't even exist; the world is a very, very big place and it's got no particular interest in your middle-of-nowhere.
If she'd become the target of some sort of stalker, or if some juvenile web site put up a "look at the giant underwear, hur hur" page, she might have a case against them. And in doing so she might take a swipe at Google, which has deeper pockets, though her odds of success are pretty low. In taking a preemptive swipe against Google, though, and subjecting herself to the Streisand Effect, she looks either money-grubbing or obsessive. Neither of those is going to engender much sympathy.
I'm not saying I agree that she should win, but I have yet to see a comment in here that actually addresses the suit. It's being claimed that this woman has at least some degree of a mental condition. Seeing her undies on the web made her believe she was constantly being watched by someone. The duress that this caused is what she is suing over. At least make some arguments that actually pertain to the case.
I will add that she states that she lost her job because of the photos.
The article does not say why she was fired. Just that she was fired. Did her boss see the photos and just fire her for them? That seems really strange to me.
More likely she started acting crazy at work, and got herself fired, and now blames google.
Maybe google should have blurred the images, but google can't be held responsible for her mental disoreders or getting herself fired.
Um...can someone explain to me how one can lose their job just simply by the knowledge of what their underwear looks like?
Geez, now I'm a little afraid to go take a leak at work, might get fired if someone sees my boxer shorts.
May I remember everybody that there are countries out there (Germany is one of them) that require Google to blur out buildings if the property owner puts in a request to do so? That's because privacy laws and understanding of personal privacy is completely different from here. I don't know much about Japan but maybe that woman actually has a case here. Just saying.
There may be some case made for outrage here, but "privacy" is a word that's getting a bit overused. Privacy actually means something, and stuff you do in public isn't it.
Someone took a picture of her underwear and posted it on Google Streetview...
Here's the original article.
From the original article in the Mainichi Shinbun, "It seems that someone posted the picture of her underwear on the internet.[...] She said, "If it had been an exterior view of the apartment that's understandable, but that a photo of my underwear drying on the veranda should appear is strange no matter how you look at it."
Again, this isn't just a case of something weird showing up on Streetview, according to the woman in question. Her paranoia is a little more understandable considering that she claims someone took a picture of her underwear and went to the trouble of posting it where she would likely find it. Being concerned about harassment or stalking isn't completely unreasonable.
Some other details that were left out of the English article include that the woman in question is from Fukuoka City in Fukuoka, that she's in her twenties, that she was fired from the hospital were she was working, that she lived alone at the time of the incident, that she found the photo this Spring, that she filed suit in November in Fukuoka District Court and that opening arguments were heard on December 15th. As of December 15th, Google was hurrying to verify the facts of the case.
There was a 2channel thread about the story that referred to it as "MyPantyView," but unfortunately Slashdot's Japanese counterparts had no comment on the matter.
Use of the words "good", "bad" or "evil" is almost invariably the result of oversimplification.
What would happen if a Microsoft Bing van were driven past every Google building and parking lot, photographing every person and car that arrived and departed? How many minutes before the police would be called or a lawsuit would be filed? Then we would know how much Google liked street photography.
Woman Not Wearing Panties Sues Google For Invasion of Privacy.
I now live in terror that Google may one day post my underwear for the world to see. i don't see how that poor woman can stay alive after people have seen her under garments. Oh the terror, the horror!
Really the best thing that could ever happen to that prude is running into a real sexual pervert who gives her a very long and complete experience.
"But there is a difference between the attention of your neighbors, with whom you have some kind of dynamic relationship, and the whole rest of the world, over whom you have no influence, social or direct."
Most sex crimes are commited by people who know the victim.
"This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
Lots of Americanish rants on here about it being fair game since she hung it outside. I live in Japan, and that is definitely not the case. Here, people have a common understood respect for each other. Just because the neighbors can see the underwear does not mean the world should, and personal privacy is a big deal here.
The other issue is that most Japanese families do not own dryers. They hang their clothes outside. It's common for perverts to steal women and childrens underwear here, so naturally a citizen might be upset if google is advertising easy targets to would be sex predators. Google needs to respect the cultures it operates in, or get out.
The fine article says that she has OCD. I suspect that is the real reason she lost her job. Expecting Google (or anyone else) to tailor everything they do to people who have an unrealistic view of the world would mean no one could do anything. Perhaps she should use her energy to get her OCD treated instead of pretending someone else has caused her problems.
At least at one house per street. Then she wouldn't be concerned. And slashdot could get on to examining the new consequences.
But there is a difference between the attention of your neighbors, with whom you have some kind of dynamic relationship, and the whole rest of the world, over whom you have no influence, social or direct.
That difference hasn't existed since the invention of the camera and newspapers.
With the first link, the chain is forged.
A patio or balcony still within view of the street. The underlying point is the Google Maps van didn't have to hop a fence and avoid Chopper to get pics of her underthings.
Just because it's the internet it doesn't mean it is in Kansas anymore. Having been in Japan, I can understand the cultural specifities that would lead this lady to expect privacy for something that for us, corn-bread and pumpkin pie folks might not be so. In Japanese culture, it is not appropriate to "look", and this is so strong in the Japanese ethos that indeed you would have satisfaction on what they expect as "privacy" over there.
Here Google (or whatever 3rd party on its behalf) did not obey the local customs, most likely an accidental turn of events. This simply showcases the fine lines that "Internet" companies must deal with when going global...
I mean seriously, stop expecting people to follow your notions of "privacy" specially when they are living in their own country and not yours.
Oh, wait...
B Cup!
Me too.
This needs to move up a bit, as it does change the dynamic of the issue quite a bit.
Really lady? Because someone saw your underwear you'll be the target of a sex crime? The ebil men are gonna get ya, huh? Equality my ass.
It's less likely to happen in the USA because a large proportion of the population don't have the freedom to use a clothesline.
http://right2dry.org
why is it that everyone in Japan is either a 10 yr old girl, or, a freakin monster.....oh wait, that's anime....i guess it all makes sense now. wtf
Google took a pic of my house when there was no foil cover over the roof. I had such anxiety knowing that aliens would see my naked house and come to use their mind control powers while I slept, that I gave up sleeping and lost my job. Do I have a chance of winning if I sue Google? Lord, I hope not, and I hope that woman doesn't, either.
Privacy is important, but if you don't want anyone to see your underwear, DON'T FUCKING HANG IT ON A LINE OUTSIDE IN PLAIN VIEW. Duh. First of all, is she even hot? Second, shouldn't she be more worried about the pervs in her neighborhood who walk by every day and use telescopes to peep her windows than someone using the one-time still pic on Google to "stalk" her? Can you say, "overreaction?"
This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
In Japan you can buy even in 100 yen stores a very neat special covers for your laundry that you put over the hangers and voilá, women and girls can put they lingerie to dry in a balcony without worry about the prying eyes of the male neighbors. If this lady was truly worried about it she could have bought her laundry covers a long ago.
Mexico: 100% conservative's America now!
1. She's only suing for like $10M or something trivial. In the US this would have been for about $90MM. If she really lost her job because of it, I'd say that she should be suing for much more.
2. If I were her, I'd be thanking Google for letting me know I had a stalker who was taking those pictures so I could take the necessary safety precautions.
Undergarments still are a "taboo" and cause people to lose their jobs if mentioned?
Would someone please point out where the underwear is in the said photo?
And also missing from your summary of the link you posted: The woman was freaking nuts. She claimed that as a result of seeing her underwear on Google, her pre-existing obsessive compulsive disorder got worse, thus causing her to lose her job. She basically wants them to pay for her being too screwed up in the head to hold a job...
Everyone who clicked on this story initially mis-read the title as "Woman Sues Google Over Street View Shots of Her in Her Underwear."
"Cut word lines. Cut music lines. Smash the control images. Smash the control machine." - William S. Burroughs
You can buy used panties in vending machines, yet a women who hangs her underwear outside for the world to see is worried about it.
Be seeing you...