If you haven’t noticed, Google have added a new feature to some cities in the US. (Actually why would you notice?) It’s called Street View and allows you to see the streets at eye level, close than satellite, as if you were walking on the streets.
Cool, I mean why not?
But have they crossed the line, the line that divides public property and private property? Some people think they have.
It’s been out a few days now and I have to say I agree with these guys, Google have crossed the line; random people can be identified using street view – people who have never and probably would never have consented to their image being permenantly held on Google’s servers for the world to see.
Primarily, I think “how could Google?”, once I thought they were an exthical and youthful company with innovation! Now I know they’re none of that, they’re just like the other big corporations and are soley interested in money grabbing and shareholder satisfaction.
Secondly, I think this technology is unnecessary. What benefit does it have to the average guy. I read something that it would be useful if you wanted to know what the front of an office or hotel you wanted to visit was like, but how many hotels and offices don’t show their frontage off on their websites?
Finally, Microsoft came up with the concept ages ago and it’s like I said in my previous article, everyone’s just playing catch-up on each other. No new ground or innovation.
Fundamentally, Google are getting cocky and I hate it. They should just stick to spending their resoruces on search, which they’re good at (or used to be).