Swiss Jump on Google Streetview Bandwagon

By Jane McEntegart, published on August 25, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: , , , , | Themes: The Internet
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Google is facing problems in Switzerland because of its Street View software.

So far this year, Google has encountered Street View-related problems in the UK, Germany, Japan and Greece. Now the Swiss are airing their grievances over the service. The Associated Press reports that a Swiss government official has demanded that all images of the country be removed from Google Street View immediately.

The issue lies with Google's obligation to obscure individuals' faces if they happen to appear in any images posted on the internet. As has been the case in the past, some faces slip through the cracks unnoticed, meaning not all faces appearing online are obscured right away. The Associated press cites Hanspeter Thuer, Switzerland's federal data protection commissioner, as saying, "Numerous faces and license numbers weren't blurred, or were done so inadequately."

According to the AP, one Street View image made headlines over the weekend, as it showed National parliamentarian Ruedi Noser on the street walking with a woman. Though the woman was quickly identified as Noser's assistant, Noser is said to have demanded an "instant shutdown of Street View" until Google can ensure it will obscure faces 100-percent of the time.

Read the full story here.

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Comments

Jerther 08/25/2009 6:29 PM
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Oh no, he doesn't want his wife to know! :P

Igot1forya 08/25/2009 6:36 PM
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Perhaps all Swiss people should not go outside?

Kryan 08/25/2009 6:57 PM
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jerther :
Oh no, he doesn't want his wife to know!



that's the ONLY reason he is all upset. coz he was BUSTED with another women. his "advisor" yeah...sure...if one pays advisor's by the hour and goes to private hotel rooms with them...then sure :)

evilshuriken 08/25/2009 7:08 PM
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I hate politicians, they are all a bunch of idiots.

This is why we can't have nice things.

virtualban 08/25/2009 7:32 PM
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It is about privacy, for whatever reason you want it

Like, chromes incognito and the official explanation example: you searching for a gift for your loved one and wanting it to be a surprise.

If one has the right to browse privately, one has the right to go out without having to hide the face all the time.

One way to get over it: implant a chip and gps monitor everybody. China will be doing that soon.

invlem 08/25/2009 7:37 PM
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Granted there are privacy issues, I however would be ecstatic if I saw my picture on street view.

falconqc 08/25/2009 8:01 PM
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evilshuriken :
I hate politicians, they are all a bunch of idiots.This is why we can't have nice things.



I agree, politicians are idiots, but I don't think we can qualify google street view as a "Nice thing". Has anyone ever used it? I mean asides to check out their house or something.

Jerther 08/25/2009 9:10 PM
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falconqc :
I agree, politicians are idiots, but I don't think we can qualify google street view as a "Nice thing". Has anyone ever used it? I mean asides to check out their house or something.


I did... To check out what it was like on the other side of the canadia/USA borders on a road I went by car and didn'T pass it, because I need either an expensive passport that takes ages and procedures to get, or a special driver licence that... costs more and takes ages to get :P

Google crew didn'T pass the borders either :P

JohnnyLucky 08/25/2009 9:19 PM
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I understand the right to privacy but two people walking down a public street? Is there anything illegal about photographing two people walking down a very public street? Have right to privacy issues gone too far? Is there some sort of misunderstanding about the right to privacy?

jecht 08/25/2009 9:28 PM
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falconqc :
I agree, politicians are idiots, but I don't think we can qualify google street view as a "Nice thing". Has anyone ever used it? I mean asides to check out their house or something.



It's pretty useful if you're going someplace unfamiliar and want to know what to look for so you don't accidentally pass it up and have to drive around to find it again. I myself hardly use it but I was surprised to hear my mom say she uses it all the time. Guess she gave me the tech genes cuz my dad is...well, he finds new and inventive ways to mess up computers that I didn't even know were possible. Oh and Street View is also cool for checking out places in other countries, seeing what it's like and maybe looking at some landmarks.

sebastienm 08/25/2009 9:39 PM
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>>>Is there anything illegal about photographing two people walking down a very public street?
Actually, yes there is. In some Euro countries, you cannot publish a picture of one, two... persons in the street. It is still considered Private life. To be considered Public, you need to have say 6 persons in the picture.

Jerther 08/25/2009 9:42 PM
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Quote :well, he finds new and inventive ways to mess up computers that I didn't even know were possible.

Hahaha! So true, and they often refer to magnetism and static electricity to explain their weird problems :)

pharge 08/25/2009 9:53 PM
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sebastienm :
>>>Is there anything illegal about photographing two people walking down a very public street? Actually, yes there is. In some Euro countries, you cannot publish a picture of one, two... persons in the street. It is still considered Private life. To be considered Public, you need to have say 6 persons in the picture.



So, did they arrest those pavarazzis? They not only take pictures of people (stars or famouse guys) on the public streets, but also on people's private propites...

If not... why?.... discrimation?.. or ....? or.... just another politic things?.... guess there is really no right or wrong... sometimes... even the laws can be selective.... >_

sebastienm 08/25/2009 10:10 PM
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They do. Most common sensational newspapers have deals with celebrities where they review pix prior to publication, specially when pics are taken in non-fully public environment. Otherwise they get into lawsuits. In some instances though, a picture can bring so much money that the paparazy chooses the 'lawsuit' direction, but it is not very common.

I cannot remember the exact number of people that have to be in the picture to before Public (i said 6 as example). I guess it's a more or less arbitrary number to draw the line somewhere... like saying you are an adult at 18 and can then vote and al'.

Raidur 08/26/2009 2:21 AM
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Uh ohs!

blackened144 08/26/2009 2:47 PM
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sebastienm :
They do. Most common sensational newspapers have deals with celebrities where they review pix prior to publication, specially when pics are taken in non-fully public environment. Otherwise they get into lawsuits. In some instances though, a picture can bring so much money that the paparazy chooses the 'lawsuit' direction, but it is not very common.I cannot remember the exact number of people that have to be in the picture to before Public (i said 6 as example). I guess it's a more or less arbitrary number to draw the line somewhere... like saying you are an adult at 18 and can then vote and al'.


Here in America our line is just a bit more logical. "Public" starts when you leave your private residence.

DXWarlock 08/27/2009 4:14 AM
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jerther :
I did... To check out what it was like on the other side of the canadia/USA borders on a road I went by car and didn'T pass it, because I need either an expensive passport that takes ages and procedures to get, or a special driver licence that... costs more and takes ages to get Google crew didn'T pass the borders either



Use it all the time, I travel for work, and want a street view of the hotel Im booking at. to see what its like, and the surroundings

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