Google Earth Street View

Google is now offering a much closer look at our world. Some folks are raising privacy concerns. As a card-carrying ACLU liberal, I'm supposed to be standing shoulder to shoulder with all my brethren in opposition to video surveillance, but I'm not.

I'm sorry. The ACLU will probably want their card back, but I just don't see this as a problem. My feeling is that if I am visible to random strangers, there's no additional loss of privacy because of cameras. If anything, I'm strongly in favor of cameras everywhere: it would help with crime.

At Is the solution for privacy openness? I said:

Sometimes I think that openness is the only final answer. If you don't have privacy anywhere, your privacy can't be abused. Your behavior might change: if you know that video cameras are watching you wherever you are, you won't be breaking littering laws. If every keystroke you type at your computer is available to the world, you aren't likely to be soliciting sex from minors.

If you are walking down a public street, I think it's reasonable to assume that you might be "on camera". I almost hate to say this, because I know it will incense my liberal peers, but if you aren't doing anything wrong, what's your problem with the camera? Other people already see you, and that might include people who know and recognize you. The camera just increases the potential.

There are parallels with Open Source here. Openness in code has obvious benefits; so does openness in the real world. Yet my bet is that the immediate reaction of most reading this will be to disagree. Right?

Spanish translation by Daniel Toker is at http://aplawrence.com/Opinion/google_street_spanish.html

Comments /Opinion/google_street.html


Fri Jun 1 13:18:22 2007: Subject:   Niall

London is pretty saturated with state-controlled security cameras. Studies have shown that the only application that results in a drop in crime is when they're used in parking lots (vehicle theft), though most of the studies note that poor implementation might be to blame (eg. poor staffing of the monitors) for the poor impact.

I've seen documentaries with Bobbies frantically following people from camera to camera just because they're running for a bus. Hardly suspicious behavior.

As much as I personally don't like the idea, and don't believe they will do much to prevent crime, they are certainly helpful after the fact. Authorities in London used CCTV footage to help them find the perps involved in the botched 2005 attacks, as well as identify the suicide bombers for the earlier ones which sadly were not prevented.

Too much room for abuse, I say. In an ideal world where the watchers could be trusted to do the right thing and respect people I'm sure everything would be hunky-dory. I'm too much of a pessimist to believe we live in that world.

Fri Jun 1 14:13:57 2007: Subject:   anonymous
Yes, when I went to London a few years back, there were cameras everywhere, and did not seem to bother me. In fact, I wish I could get some footage of my wife and I, closing down one of the pubs we visited the first night we were there. Watching us stumble home, laughing and having a great time would make for nice home video! At least, I think so.



As long as nobody is watching me in my home, I am pretty open to this idea. We should take what Londoners have learned from this experience, and see if it is worth it. For crime, it is a fantastic idea. I think the thing that scares people the most, is how "big brother" is watching you, and what other liberties are we willing to give up, in the name of security.

The parallel to open source is a good one. Especially when you apply the security principle to it. But would we be more secure? Are there ways to "crack" this behavior? i.e. some kind of cloaking device that would render the camera useless? Electromagnetic Pulses? Will this lead to another cat and mouse chase, like the radar detectors, versus the radar?

I still need more information, before I can say if this is going to be worth it or not, but being able to track down people who kidnap kids, or perform other crimes, certainly sounds like a great idea.

- Bruce




Fri Jun 1 14:26:40 2007: Subject:   Niall
Funny you should mention "cracks":



http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/privacy/blur-reflective-spray-makes-you-unphotographable-264797.php

Tue Jul 10 00:21:43 2007: Subject:   anonymous
You should read The Light of Other Days



Sat Nov 10 23:29:32 2007: Subject:   TonyLawrence
Spanish translation added today at


http://aplawrence.com/Opinion/google_street_spanish.html - thanks to Daniel Toker

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