Google Street View is NOT a Crime
Google Street View in DC
To those who wonder if taking picture of people on public streets without their permission is legal, may I present to you a massive street-level photography effort: Google Street View.
Google is taking continuous photographs of Washington DC streets for their Google Maps application, photographs that are capturing all kinds of people, places and things, perfectly legally.
And its perfectly legal for Andy Carvin to turn the lens around and photograph the Google street view car.
So remember, photography is NOT a crime and to prove it, you should join Metroblogging DC in a declaration of photographic freedom, a Silver Spring Photo Walk on the best day possible: July 4th.
Huh. People will get all freaked if a person takes their photo but if a corporation rolls by and videos everything, there isn’t a peep of protest.
How odd…
I’m not sure what’s more grating, this recent crusade of smugness, or the constant usage of “clock-stopping hottie”. Can we hear more about the minutae of 19th & M? I’ll start: Jews For Jesus. What is that all about?
Actually, there’s been quite a hubbub of people asking Google to remove photos that they appear in.
Also, as I previously mentioned, Google has proactively worked with domestic violence shelters and suchlike to ensure that they don’t appear in photos. Because it’s the right thing to do.
Take a look at this huge list of privacy invasions:
http://streetviewgallery.corank.com
The funny thing about that pic I took of the Googlemobile is that just beyond the left margin of the photo is 650 Mass Ave, the building where another photographer was recently stopped by a security guard because the building happens to house some ATF offices. If I’d only known that when I snapped the picture, I would have angled it better so the building would have been in the background.
Big Brother: Those are not privacy invasions. If its visible from a public street it cannot be considered “private”.
Wayan, i’m just bored with you & the site. You drag the site’s iq down at least 50 points. There’s far more interesting sites out there that actually talk about DC (all of DC not your closeminded little bubble of self importance that unfortunately lives here) rather than some crusade for people obnoxiously taking pictures of people just to prove they can.
And yet Anon you can’t help but be so inspired not only to read my posts, but also comment on them. Thanks!
Big Brother: The general rule is that if you don’t want people to know what you are doing, don’t do it in public. Just like if you don’t want people to know your secrets, don’t tell them to anyone.