Privacy Doesn’t Exist, Get Used To Everyone Knowing Everything About You

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

The headline practically says it all. Google (NSDQ: GOOG) is being sued by a Pittsburgh couple for posting images of its house on the Internet in Google’s Street Views pages. Google responded, in court no less, that complete privacy simply doesn’t exist in today’s world and the couple should stop crying about it.

Google may be right, in theory. It said in papers filed with the court, “Today’s satellite image technology means that even in today’s desert, complete privacy does not exist.” That’s partially true. With satellites, cameras and other monitoring devices all being tied together by the Internet, it is becoming more and more difficult to completely isolate yourself from view.

But does that mean our privacy should be violated by large corporations looking to provide better mapping software? Shouldn’t there be some boundaries that aren’t trampled in the name of a better product? Google said in the court papers that that doesn’t matter, and implied the idea of privacy is somewhat faulted.

The “Plaintiffs live in the 21st century United States, where every step upon private property is not deemed by law to be an actionable trespass. Unless there is a clear expression such as a gate, fence, or ‘keep out’ sign indicating that the public is not permitted to enter, anyone may approach a home by a walkway, driveway, or any other route commonly used by visitors, without liability for trespass.” Google says the Pittsburgh couple in question had no such signs, and therefore should not have any expectation for privacy.

I can see Google’s point here, but for Google to come out and say that privacy doesn’t exist is not a great publicity move for the company.

Have Your Say: Privacy Doesn’t Exist, Get Used To Everyone Knowing Everything About You
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

DNA database ‘criminalises’ the innocent

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Have Your Say: DNA database ‘criminalises’ the innocent
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Bush Orders Revamping Of Intelligence Gathering

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Have Your Say: Bush Orders Revamping Of Intelligence Gathering
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Nancy Pelosi Hasn’t Been Paying Attention

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Nancy Pelosi Hasn’t Been Paying Attention
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Leave it in the ground!

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Leave it in the ground!
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

British NASA hacker to face U.S. trial

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: British NASA hacker to face U.S. trial
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

BP hits a record but warns of Russia risk

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: BP hits a record but warns of Russia risk
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Inspector questions Blackwater contracts

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Inspector questions Blackwater contracts
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Al-Qaeda expert re-killed by CIA

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Al-Qaeda expert re-killed by CIA
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Afghan air war grows in intensity

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Afghan air war grows in intensity
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Strike on Iran still possible, U.S. tells Israel

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Strike on Iran still possible, U.S. tells Israel
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Reversing mass imprisonment

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Reversing mass imprisonment
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

‘All Citizens Must Be Equal’

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: ‘All Citizens Must Be Equal’
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Bush Reveals True Reason for War in Push for Iraqi Agreement

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Have Your Say: Bush Reveals True Reason for War in Push for Iraqi Agreement
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

BNP Clive Jefferson, YouTube, and incitement to violence

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Have Your Say: BNP Clive Jefferson, YouTube, and incitement to violence
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report in our forum .

Related News

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 11:58 pm and is filed under Surveillance, Civil Liberties & Human Rights News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Translate: