Streetview moves inside – more trouble for Google?
Jinfo Blog

By Penny Crossland

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It is just as well that Google has long dropped its “do not be evil” mantra, because there is no doubt that many governments  and online users would be questioning the validity of the search engine’s philosophy, especially regarding privacy.

There has been a big uproar over Google’s policy that requires members of its new Google+ social networking site to use their real names, especially now that the search engine wants to integrate a large number of its web applications with the service. This would mean that some may disclose their pseudonyms inadvertently. If you consider the number of people using Google sites to report on events that have happened during the Arab spring for example, it is easy to see that some may be exposed to danger if their real names are revealed.

As PCWorld reports, Google can ill afford any further run-ins with governments concerning individual privacy. In the US, Google is already in trouble over its Buzz microblogging service – now shut down – which was integrated with Gmail and exposed users’ email contacts with authorisation.

The search engine is also in trouble in Germany and the US over its Streetview cars, which inadvertently collected data from open wi-fi networks while taking pictures of properties. Several other countries have investigated Google over what is being called a “wire tapping” case, with France fining the company €100,000.

Now, the BBC has reported that Google Streetview cameras are about to move inside. A pilot project in selected locations worldwide will enable businesses to advertise their interiors via Street View.

One might think that this could be a useful tool for potential customers and business owners alike. Investigative researchers like myself will also welcome more visual information on companies. However, how long before mistakes are made and the first complaints are lodged?

The privacy issue is, of course complex. One person’s privacy is another’s freedom of speech. One government’s concern for national security can be construed as censorship somewhere else.

Google itself has revealed in its most recent transparency report that there has been a sharp increase in requests from governments to remove content from its sites or reveal user details, with the United States government topping the chart. It asked for information on 11,000 users with Google accounts. The largest increase in requests has come from the United Kingdom government, which, between January and June 2011, asked  for content to be taken down on 113 occasions. Google apparently complied with 80% of these requests.

Google supporters would say that many of the recently publicised privacy violations caused by the search engine are based on honest mistakes. The problem is that when you are dealing with individuals’ privacy there is no room for error.

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