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Mom Says Street View Showed Nude Pics of Son

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

A mother in Britain has criticized Google's Street View service after naked photos of her young son appeared on the Internet.

A 25-year-old mother is furious after Google refused to remove images of her son from Google Street View. The Daily Mail reports that Claire Rowlands' son was inadvertently caught on camera while playing in his grandmother's garden. The 3-year-old was wearing just his runners and, though Google blurred the license plate of the car in Claire's mother's driveway, the image of the toddler wearing just a pair of shoes was left uncensored. In a second photo taken a few seconds later, the boy's body is hidden behind a fence but his face is clearly visible and again, not censored.

The Daily Mail cites Claire as saying she felt sick to her stomach when she saw the picture. She also said Google needs to be 'extra careful' when taking photos on warm days.

"They should be extra careful on warm days because this is what children do - he was just playing in the garden and we didn't expect in a  million years he'd have his picture taken and put on the internet for anyone to see.

"It's such a clear image," said Claire. "I see it as an indecent photograph - my concern is that paedophiles could see it and there's no way I ever wanted my son to be seen naked all over the world."

Ms. Rowlands argued that her son was on private property and says residents should be asked if they're happy to have their pictures taken before Google's Street View cars takes the photos.

Google is supposed to blur all faces of people appearing in Google Street View photographs before they are posted. DM reports the company apologized for the mistake and the image has now been blurred but a Google spokesperson told the paper the image in question was removed within an hour of Google being notified.

Do you think Google should have to ask residents before taking photographs of their streets? Let us know in the comments below.

Read the full story on London's Daily Mail.

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Anonymous 07/02/2010 3:48 AM
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no. you can have a camera on your property filming naked neighbors in the house next door and there is nothing illegal about it. there was a case like that around here and as long as the cam is not on their property it isn't really infringing upon illegal boundaries.

Anonymous 07/02/2010 3:50 AM
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I fail to see the problem. If this stupid woman is going to allow her kid to be naked outside were all the neighbors to see which I think is wrong. The what does it matter if it is on the internet. There is more of a chance that a Pedophile that is already walking by would snatch the kid. It is again just a cry for money

Jinx13 07/02/2010 3:53 AM
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Don't leave the house in any clothing or lack thereof that you don't want to be seen in. That goes for your kids and anyone else you are responsible for. Should Google blur out faces of those caught on camera? Yes. Do they need to blur me should I ever be caught on camera? No.

All these people that complain only noticed because they were checking out streetview. They were probably doing so because they thought it was a pretty interesting feature; "cool" one might even say. Then they see a shot of something they find embarrassing, and it is such a terrible invasion of privacy google has dared commit!

/rant

extremepcs 07/02/2010 3:53 AM
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OK... Why the &$^% was your kid outside naked to begin with? "That's what kids do" Really? That's what parents are for - to tell them when they are doing something stupid.

bustapr 07/02/2010 3:53 AM
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Whys the kid walking around naked outside? Warm day or not, kids walk around with cloths on!

No, Google shouldnt ask permission, the streets are public.

eddieroolz 07/02/2010 3:56 AM
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It looks like to me that these British people are overly sensitive.

As long as you're playing by a public road, your image is in public domain. Which means a motorist speeding by also asw your child's rear. Are you going to demand that all drivers wear a eye patch while driving by your son?

LLJones 07/02/2010 3:58 AM
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doomsdaydave11 07/02/2010 4:08 AM
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kajjot 07/02/2010 4:16 AM
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I would be more worried about some pervs taking pics for their personal collection.
Typical "there's a blame = there's a claim" situation.
They were probably already thinking of part exchanging that passat for something better. lol

Shadow703793 07/02/2010 4:17 AM
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loneninja 07/02/2010 4:23 AM
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It's wrong that google put an image of a naked kid online without blurring it, but it's just as wrong the mother lets her kid run around naked outside.

seriousazn 07/02/2010 4:23 AM
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Quote :Ms. Rowlands argued that her son was on private property and says residents should be asked if they're happy to have their pictures taken before Google's Street View cars takes the photos.
I'm sorry, you don't own the road or sidewalk.

JonathanDeane 07/02/2010 4:27 AM
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Everyone point and laugh!!! This is just pure comedy you can't make this stuff up....

Pyroflea 07/02/2010 4:32 AM
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Well you see, by society's standards, you should generally wear clothing when you're outside. If you don't, people see you naked. Just though I'd let you know, most people don't realize this.

stm1185 07/02/2010 4:47 AM
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How Id respond if I was Google:

Hey Bit56, pay some attention to your child so he is not running around naked in the front yard like some savage.

chedderslam1976 07/02/2010 4:50 AM
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k, in for 1.
hide

Alchemy69 07/02/2010 4:52 AM
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I'll give you good odds that five minutes before that picture was taken the mother had the kid wrapped in a towel and had someone keeping a lookout for the google van at the end of the street.

zoemayne 07/02/2010 4:55 AM
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looks to me as if the kid is behind a gate and the camera is peeking over the gate... i disagree w google here why wont google take it down cause its a kid its ok? plus showing the kids face.... nope i disagree with google here kids will be kids and some have no problem walking around naked.

Zerk 07/02/2010 5:04 AM
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So thats What Google does, I'll bet they hang around Hollywood alot.

saran008 07/02/2010 5:05 AM
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Shadow703793 :
Tow words: Stupid mom


+1
Streets are public.
It's duty of mom to hold her son dressed :)

christop 07/02/2010 5:10 AM
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what kind of parents lets their kid run around nude?

jrtolson 07/02/2010 5:10 AM
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wot a stupid world we live in these days. when i was a kid, most kids ran around naked anyway, nobody cared.. and im sure that even the most wierdest of paedophile would not beat off on a blurred google image, if u want to take pics of your childs first swim in the local pool, u can't nor can u take a camera on the beach! i think most of this paedo rubbish is nonsense im sure most are either behind bars or at least know about in this day in age.. and if i was the parants of that child i would not be making so much fuss!!

digitalrazoe 07/02/2010 5:17 AM
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in the day of technology where pictures are being taken faster than the frame rate of a HDTV set ( I believe its up to 240hz now )
you are more likely to get caught with a picture taken with your finger up your nose or naked - is it right ? no . not really . but at the same breath if you want to protect your kid from the creepy's that are out there you PUT CLOTHES ON YOUR KID! Irate 25year old ?
one word .. Nutjob...
Google .. ...blur out the nakedness wouldn't hurt a bit ..cuz right now instead of directions to Fry's ... we directions to the nearest grocery store for PAMPERS(rm)...

kewlx25 07/02/2010 5:41 AM
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"On private property" meet "in public view"

vinehoyle 07/02/2010 5:47 AM
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yup i agree what on earth was she thinking letting her kid run around naked in public view. But also Google should alter or digitally remove the child. It's improper.

ryanjm 07/02/2010 5:53 AM
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I'm sure pedos can find some better material than a far off shot of a kid's behind...

m-manla 07/02/2010 6:07 AM
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Just a question, why was the kid naked in public in the first place.

walt526 07/02/2010 6:15 AM
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Google was just trying to secure a capital investment from Michael Jackson.

blarneypete 07/02/2010 6:16 AM
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Stupid parents. Stupid, stupid parents. INCREDIBLY stupid parents.

However, that does not excuse Google for posting kiddie porn. That's illegal in most places, I believe.

Bad Google. Very bad Google.

garry__ 07/02/2010 6:38 AM
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bustapr :
Whys the kid walking around naked outside? Warm day or not, kids walk around with cloths on!No, Google shouldnt ask permission, the streets are public.



Totally agree.

Maxor127 07/02/2010 6:40 AM
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On the one hand, if you're going to go outside naked or allow your kids to do that, then it's your fault. On the other hand, I don't see why Google doesn't just blur the kid. In fact, that should be a law or something. Google Street View shouldn't be a Peeping Tom tool. Google Street View seems more shady every day. Criminals use it to case houses, and who knows what else.