Looks like Google Street View is in the news again today, but for all the wrong reasons. A Swiss agency has threatened to sue Google because it hasn’t taken to proper privacy considerations into effect, saying that “many images are problematic and insufficiently anonymous.”
A few weeks ago, the same Swiss organization asked Google, officially, but knock it off with the Street View, but Google offered to change it enough to placate the organization’s demands. The main issue has to do with when Street View shows private roads, or when someone’s car’s license plate is visible. Basically, it’s just trying to maintain some semblance of privacy. I don’t think this Swiss organization is against the idea of maps or anything, but when you’re able to make out someone’s face as he’s walking down the strasse, well, there’s no reason for that. What purpose does that serve?
Google, for its part, maintains that Street View is 100 percent legal in Switzerland, and will work to ensure its survival there.
How many of you have actually used Street View for anything other than saying, “Oh, hey, we were kicked out of that bar once?” Maybe if you’re visiting New York for the first time, and want to see what the area around your hotel looks like?
im heading out to washington state in a month and i used google street view to zoom all around my school’s campus and when i was looking for an apartment i checked out the houses and what the area around was like
very useful imo… and when taking directions to a buisness for the first time you can see just which building it is your on the look out for rather then guessing as you drive down the road.
Cops use it all the time. They ask people where they were mugged. People can point exactly where.
Use it for directions too.
Well look at what the cops found here recently:
http://topnews.us/content/23081-swiss-police-found-illegal-marijuana-plantation-using-google-earth
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=marijuana+plantation+near+switzerland&vps=2&jsv=175c&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.494074,77.607422&ie=UTF8&latlng=8080572720418199735&ei=9MivSqElkrGMB6D_pJkM&sig2=bYobStLcoibnkbZneRes0Q&cd=1&usq=marijuana+plantation&geocode=FRXE1gIdYjeKAA
I use it to spy on various people of interest living in Switzerland.
hahahaha
I use the streetview, in Switzerland, since it is much easier to navigate around with it. Not every street is street viewed, but all of the main ones are. Also really cool to check out where you go, before you go there.
I tend to look at places I’m going to drive to, so it’s easier to recognize it when I get there.
I use it for practical purposes all the time: while traveling, or even when I need to visit a part of the city with which I’m not very familiar. Once you get used to using it, it’s an indispensable tool.
Also, there’s got to be something said for the virtual tours of faraway lands. I never thought I wanted to visit Switzerland until I saw the Street View photos. Now, I’m sold on the place. I always thought I wanted to visit England, but having seen its cities on SV, I’ll save my money for Switzerland instead.
I’m actually addicted to Street View. I use it just about everywhere it’s available: both for places I’ve been to and places I’ve never seen. It’s my favorite time-wasting activity right now. And I love it for my iPhone!
I’m not sure what the big deal is concerning privacy here. From what I understand, you can copy down and plate number, go to the local police, pay them (not sure how much), and they’ll give the the address of the person that owns the car. So what’s the big deal?
Well in Switzerland, in most Cantons you can get the plate info by simply going to a website or sending a text.