Google’s Street View kicked out of Minnesota

by Stevie Smith - Jun 2 2008, 11:52

It may well provide an interactive ground level mapping experience like no other, but it would appear that not everyone is enamoured with Google’s impressive Street View tool.

Google bows to trespassing threat and removes Street View images of private US community. Image: Google.

Indeed, following hot on the heels of Google’s recent decision to allay growing privacy concerns through the application of facial-blurring, an enclosed and resident-owned community in Minnesota has given Street View the boot on the grounds that it trespasses on private property.Upon locating Street View pictures taken of residential homes in the small city of North Oaks, which is located just north of St. Paul, officials representing the community’s estimated 4,500 private residents contacted Google and demanded that the offending city imagery was removed immediately.According to Mayor Thomas Watson, shunting Street View’s roving eye from North Oaks is absolutely the townsfolk’s right, not least because they own the city streets and Google’s mapping tool directly violates the law laid down by the community’s ‘no trespassing’ perimeter signs. “It’s not the hoity-toity folks trying to figure out how to keep the world away,” explained Mayor Watson in a Canadian Press report. “[Google] really didn’t have any authorization to go on private property.”North Oaks officials approached Google regarding the captured and posted Street View images back in January of this year, warning the Internet search giant that its conduct was in direct violation of city trespassing ordinance. Google acquiesced to the officials’ demands, but was keen to point out that no other North American city had lodged such a complaint or demanded such action. According to Google spokeswoman Elaine Filadelfo, the driver of the specific Street View vehicle that collected ground-based images from North Oaks likely did not see the ‘no trespassing’ signs and was unable to discern the small community from any other. A possibility enforced by the fact that North Oaks removed its perimeter gates almost 25 years ago.

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HoustonianJun 2nd, 2008 - 21:03:02

I wish my city, Houston, Texas can enforce some kind of similar measure. Commercial buildings during off hours are one discussion, but streets lined with private residences and involuntary individuals going about their daily business. Imagine if someone with money started a paparazzi service to document embracing public acts of black hat convention presenters' or a road-view like program manager's daily lives. Wouldn't that be a cool new technology / IT 'entertainment' gadget. It will serve as a healthy expression of free speech by ordinary poeple's for their resentment toward's such activities.

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Guy FawkesJun 2nd, 2008 - 23:09:34

One wonders what sort of non-Republican-endorsed activities were caught on Street View's cameras in North Oaks, to provoke such a response.

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smokeonitOct 10th, 2008 - 13:27:14

North Oaks does not have the right to force people off their roads... as long as they're public roads used by the mail man and other public services... that roads were built with private money does not mean that they're off limits to anyone not allowed by the community... if it's privately owned land it's a different story, but North Oaks seems to have normal roads that are open to anyone...

and i agree with the poster before me, republicans wanting their private status, bought with public money....

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mukutubeApr 7th, 2009 - 02:17:52

Eric Fensler!, Eric Fensler!,

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