Privacy

Google addressed potential privacy concerns due to Street View by having "easily accessible tools for flagging inappropriate or sensitive imagery for review and removal." (CNET News.com) Originally Google required proof of identification (such as a driver’s license or other form of photo identification) and a sworn statement in order to have a picture removed. The picture a person wished to have removed must be a picture of him/her self or of his/her child; a person could not request a picture be removed for anyone else including a spouse or relative. As of August 22, 2007, Google changed its policy so that just simply requesting to have an image taken down and replying to a confirmation email from Google will suffice.
Google did take other precautions to address privacy concerns, as the company had removed images of certain shelters, such as women’s domestic violence shelters and drug treatment facilities before launching Street view.
In Canada and certain European companies the privacy laws regarding public places are stricter, where individuals are supposed to have knowledge and give consent when their image is used, even when in public or when used in the media. Google has responded to these privacy restrictions by blurring individuals’ faces and license plates.
I feel Google’s responses were somewhat inadequate. Why should people have to file a complaint in order to have certain inappropriate or embarrassing pictures taken down? Shouldn’t Google have scanned through the images before launching Street View? I believe Google’s response to Canada’s privacy issues of blurring people’s faces and license plates should have been done for the United States Street View as well; possibly then there would not have been as much controversy when Street View was launched.