Internet Law
Couple Says Google’s Street View Violates Privacy
Posted Apr 4, 2008, 01:50 pm CST
By Molly McDonough
A Pittsburgh couple has sued Google alleging their privacy is being invaded by the Internet giant's wildly popular "Street View" mapping feature.
Street View enables Web users to see ground-level views of houses, streetscapes and neighborhoods.
But the The Smoking Gun notes that Aaron and Christine Boring accuse Google of an "intentional and/or grossly reckless invasion" of their seclusion and privacy because their home is included even though it's on a street clearly labeled with a "Private Road" sign.
The Borings also complain that they purchased the secluded property with a desire for privacy. They maintain they've been caused "mental suffering" and that their property values have been diminished. The couple is asking for $25,000 in damages and want Google to remove images of their home. The couple’s lawyer, Dennis Moskal, told the Recorder that the company apparently failed to control a photographer who drove down a private driveway and snapped a photo of their home and pool.
"If you were sitting in the pool, you'd see a Google vehicle right there close enough to hand them a drink," said Moskal. "It's fortuitous that no one was in the pool."
A Google spokesman, Larry Yu, said the company’s policy is to take photos only from public streets. Concerned citizens can contact the company to remove a photo, Yu told the Recorder.
Hat tip Wall Street Journal Law Blog.
Updated at 10:44 a.m. April 7 to add information from the Recorder story.