Friday, June 01, 2007

Google's mapping feature includes unwitting subjects

Continued from page 1

By Associated Press

A9's photographic maps, which were abandoned late last year, raised privacy concerns about women being seen entering domestic violence shelters.

Hoping to avoid similar complaints, Google tried to identify potentially sensitive locations by contacting the Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, much to the delight of Cindy Southworth, the group's director.

''We were thrilled that a major technology company like this reached out in this way to help protect these victims,'' she said.

Google also is offering a ''help'' button on all the street-level photos to provide a link for users to request the removal of an image that is objectionable or clearly identifies a person who does not want to be included. Company spokeswoman Victoria Grand said Google has fielded ''very few'' removal requests so far.

Eileen Diamond is hoping she can persuade Google to replace its current picture of a Miami street corner where protesters gather once a week to protest the abortions performed at A Choice For Women. The picture, still available on Google's maps Friday afternoon, includes a cluster of protesters standing outside the clinic, an image that clinic administrator Diamond worries will scare away potential patients or perhaps attract troublemakers.

''It's sort of disturbing because it's certainly not the kind of message we want to be sending out,'' said Diamond. ''It's already very painful for our patients to come in. We want them to feel safe and protected.''

As of Friday, Diamond said she was still having trouble finding the right way through Google's Web site to tell the company she would like the picture removed.

Because Google's street-level pictures were taken in public places, the company appears to be on solid legal ground, according to both Bankston and Weinstein.

But Weinstein worries that some of the issues raised by Google's new service might inspire overly repressive laws.

''It's a tough area, but it just seems there is no way around the fact that public spaces are public spaces,'' Weinstein said. ''You don't want to create an environment where it becomes illegal to take photos in public. It can be riskier not to be able to see something than it is to be able to see something.''