Couple Sues Google for Invasion of Privacy
Techtree News Staff, Apr 07, 2008 1506 hrs IST
The couple's lawyer claims that removing the images will not undo the harm done; is Google going to refrain from doing such things in future?
Mr and Mrs Boring (no, they're not that boring), a Pennsylvania couple, have sued Google for invading their privacy and devaluing their property.
In a lawsuit filed last week in the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Aaron and Christine Boring have accused Google of posting pictures of their Pittsburgh home in Franklin Park -- on its 'Street View' that allows users find street-level photos by clicking on the map.
The suit, which seeks $25,000 in damages, alleges that the images seem to have been taken from the couple's long driveway labeled 'Private Road' and that itself is an invasion of privacy.
In their suit, the couple claims that a desire for privacy was one of the driving factors behind their decision to buy the Pittsburgh property back in 2006.
The couple's lawyer Dennis Moskal reportedly said, "Put yourself in their position, say you and your wife are in your swimming pool, wearing whatever, and you see a Google vehicle (mounted with digital cameras to take pictures up and down the streets of major metropolitan areas) taking photographs of you -- and they're close enough to almost hand you a drink. That is a significant invasion of a person's privacy." Moskal said removing the image wouldn't undo the damage; he questioned whether that's going to stop Google from doing the same thing in future.
Meanwhile, Google spokesman Larry Yu is reported to have said that they absolutely respect that people may not be comfortable with some of the imagery on the site, and that they actually make it pretty easy for people to submit a request to them to remove any such imagery.
While Google is believed to be reviewing the suit, the pictures now stand removed from their Web site. However, that hasn't stopped other Web sites from posting the pictures. Take a look here.
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by abdelrhan saber, Qena, on Apr 07, 2008 04:43 PM, Report abuse Reply
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I think this blaten on there part
by David, Tucson, on Apr 08, 2008 07:54 AM, Report abuse Reply