ANALYSIS: Google is watching you

By Mark McLaughlin
Evening News (Edinburgh)
July 17, 2008

IT looks fairly innocent if a little odd, but Google's unmistakable camera cars have been causing a bit of a stir on the streets of Edinburgh.

The 360-degree camera cars are in the course of filming every street in the Capital preparing a virtual map of the city.

The aim is to provide a walk-through picture of Edinburgh on the internet. Users would be able to guide themselves along any city street, as if they were exploring it in 3D, homing in on anything or anyone who took their interest.

You could, for example, type in "108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh" and be virtually transported to the front door of the Evening News' offices.

Google has promised to blur the faces of anybody it captures during the course of filming images for its Street View service.

In the face of privacy concerns, it has also included an opt-out for anyone who objects to their property appearing on the Google site, although the onus is on the property owner to complain.

The company has also admitted that the technology "isn't perfect" and "will sometime miss a face or licence plate if they are partially covered or at a difficult angle".

"Google spotters" have inundated the News with camera car sightings since we first reported on the project last week, and the car has been seen on streets from Morningside to Leith.

One resident of a quiet cul-de-sac took great exception, trying to obstruct the camera to prevent it filming her property.

Rewa Banks, 62, found the car photographing her front door in Warriston, and challenged the driver.

She said: "I went up to him and asked him what possible interest anyone could have in spying up my street unless they were up to mischief. I stood in front of my garden and held my hands up so he couldn't film any more - and if they want to use my picture they'll have to pay me for it!

"The last thing I want to be doing is advertising my property to thieves and burglars so I told him to stop filming because he was invading my privacy.

"He just shrugged his shoulders and said he was only doing his job. I asked him who I could complain to and he took my details and said Google would get back to me in writing."

Unsatisfied, Mrs Banks immediately contacted her local councillor, Iain Whyte, to see if he could do anything to safeguard her privacy.

Councillor Whyte said: "I'm not sure there's very much we can do about it. People have generally always been allowed to film what they like in the street."

The city council says it has no power to stop the filming unless the vehicle is blocking the road or causing an obstruction.

Mrs Banks has nevertheless contacted the Office of the Information Commissioner (ICO) in Scotland, in Thistle Street, which has already received other complaints.

Among the other objectors is Edinburgh-based civil liberties campaigner John Welford, from the NO2ID campaign.

Mr Welford said that he fears the filming "could be extremely dangerous for a person on a witness protection programme or trying to hide from a violent partner".

The ICO said it is taking up the complaints with Google, and is urging the company to "seriously consider the implications for individuals' privacy before introducing Street View to the UK".

An ICO spokesman added: "Whilst we recognise the benefits of such a service, there is a risk that Street View could identify individuals alongside their place of work or places they are visiting.

"In most instances this will not have a serious impact on people's privacy. However, identifying an individual outside some premises, for instance health clinics and hospitals, could raise serious privacy issues."

Google says it has safeguards in place, with a spokesman saying: "We make it easy within the product for users to report a face or licence plate for extra blurring, or to ask for their image to be removed.

"We think this type of privacy-enabling technology is the best way of meeting the challenge of continuing to respect people's expectation of privacy, while not stifling the development of new products and services that everyone can enjoy and benefit from."

The spokesman added: "We are taking photographs to bring the Street View product to Europe.

"Edinburgh may be one of the cities included when we launch Street View in Europe."