Privacy advocates who oppose Google Street View have suffered a rather significant defeat. Yesterday, a United States Magistrate Judge thoroughly dismissed a lawsuit brought against Google by Aaron and Christine Boring.
The Borings were the first people ever to go to court over Street View. In April of last year, they noted that a Street View car had gone past a “Private Road” sign and up their driveway, taking pictures all the while. The photos were displayed online, and the Borings claimed Google had trespassed and invaded their privacy. They sought around $25,000 in damages as a result.
Street View Shot Of The Borings’ House
Pennsylvania’s Judge Amy Reynolds Hay didn’t grant that. Instead, her Memorandum Opinion implies that the Borings are wusses, stating, “While it is easy to imagine that many whose property appears on Google’s virtual maps resent the privacy implications, it is hard to believe that any – other than the most exquisitely sensitive – would suffer shame or humiliation.”
The judge also, while dismissing the claim, concluded that “any attempted amendment would be futile.” So she basically doesn’t want to hear from the Borings again.
This development appears to put Street View on solid legal ground, since its blurring technology should take care of complaints related to faces and license plates. Any future lawsuits will now have a much tougher time moving forward. Hat tip to Eric Goldman.
