Internet giant Google has released its “Street View” site in New Zealand amid concerns for people’s privacy.
The site allows users to check out a neighbourhood or even a specific house using photographs taken by camera-cars that have been driving up every road and street in the country for the past year.
Google suggests users use the site to preview holiday accommodation or look at an area they are considering moving to but some people are already voicing their concerns about privacy.
Julie Owen, from Gisborne is not happy that her son was photographed in front of her house.
“People have a right to be able to do what they want in their front yard without expecting to end up on Google, the internet and being able to be seen by the whole world,” she says.
Privacy Commissioner Marie Schroff says she is concerned about Google’s site and urges people to make their views known to the company if they have a problem.
“I’m concerned that we are in the middle of a technological and surveillance revolution,” she says.
However, Google says people are able to get photographs taken down.
Annie Baxter of Google says:
“At the bottom of every image there’s a link that says ‘report a concern’, you fill out a simple online form and we’ll review that image and take it down.”