Google sued for Street View privacy invasion

A Pennsylvania couple are suing Google for posting pictures of their home on Google Street View.

The couple have filed a case claiming that one of Google's vehicles which photographs urban areas using a digital camera mounted on the roof took the photos by driving up a road clearly marked 'Private Property'.

"As residents living in a private road Plaintiffs had a reasonable expectation of privacy, as well as within their exclusive residence," the filing reads.

"The invasion of Plaintiffs was substantial and highly offensive to a reasonable person. Revealing this information has caused Plaintiffs mental suffering and diminished the value of their property."

Google Street View includes a function that allows homeowners to have their pictures removed.

But it appears that the couple have not used the feature and are taking a legal approach. They have asked for $25,000 in damages.

The couple's case is also weakened by the fact that photographs of their home, along with their names and a detailed description, are already on the Allegheny County real estate website.

"Isn't litigation the only way to change a big business' conduct with the public?" the couple's attorney, Dennis Moskal, told the Boston Globe. "What happened to their accountability?"

See also:

TomTom drums up Google Maps support

Users can export map information to sat-nav system  07 Dec 2007

Google Q3 profits up 46 per cent

$1.07bn on revenues of $4.23bn  19 Oct 2007

Gadget addiction heralding new 'ICE age'

Energy Saving Trust worried by energy used by consumer electronics  04 Jul 2007

Google urges firms to embrace viral marketing

Companies are failing to make the most of the web  14 May 2007

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