Google Maps is spying on my cat, says freaked out BB reader

BoingBoing.net ^ | 5/30/07 | Mary Kalin-Casey

[Reaganesque]

BoingBoing reader Mary Kalin-Casey says,

The new Google Maps zoom feature zooms all the way into my living room window. See cat on cat perch.

I'm all for mapping, but this feature literally gives me the shakes. I feel like I need to close all my curtains now. I'm going to look into whether it's possible for a person to have pictures of their home removed from Google Maps. Meanwhile, I'm happy to show bb readers the photo in the interest of illustrating creepy privacy violations. Heck, the whole world can see him anyway.

Link. Dang, it's so detailed, I can even see he's a tabby!

[Reaganesque]

This was too funny and chilling at the same time not to post. If it should be elsewhere, please move it. But, it does relate to Google's new "Street View" feature that it released yesterday for Google Maps. It's a cool feature but it could be a problem with privacy concerns. Hmmmm.... Read down the page. There are a number of interesting reader comments as well.

[3AngelaD]

This is another reason why I love my trees, especially the huge evergreens.

[Republican Party Reptile]

hmmm, before she thinks she need to close all of her curtains, is she hot?

[Andyman]

Not only that, but as you look South down the street, it appears an alien death ray (or maybe global warming) has wiped away a corner of the apartment building on the right.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

That’s one danged low flying satellite. And it looks sideways too?

That explains all of those UFO sightings!

[Calpernia]

Cats getting googled :)

[ExpatGator]

I think it’s illegal to google a cat!

[kinoxi]

That looks like a nosey neighbor pic to me. If you scroll out from the top link the angle of the observer goes down. Very weird though.

[Slings and Arrows]

Cats getting googled :)

I think mine have MySpace pages.

[lowbridge]

It's not complete. You can only get that view with certain outlined streets. It doesnt work for my street, but it does for the freeway near my street.

However, I'm sure that they'll get around to covering my street as well.

[Calpernia]

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[MEGoody]

I tried zooming in on my own home, and it wouldn’t get nearly that close. Maybe I did something wrong, but it would only get as close as a low flying helicopter might.

[ExpatGator]

My Orange Tabby is of a temperment to kick Google’s butt. She brooks no foolishness, even from me, her buddy.

[GoforBroke]

Check out the corner of Washington and Grant using “Street View” http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&layer=c&cbll=37.795144,-122.406595&cbp=1,273.618658414742,0.372247067615998,3&safe=on&ll=37.796242,-122.406074&spn=0.002331,0.004302&t=h&z=18

Pan around until you are looking north on Grant.

[Thunder Pig]

I read somwhere that Google was looking for volunteers to submit photos taken at street level so they could integrate that in with the satellite maps. This may be that, or a fake...I don’t think commercial sats have that kind of resolution.

[Daffynition]

Good thing my windows are boarded up since Y2K. We're safe.

[DB]

It is obvious that the street level pictures were taken from the ground level. They obviously collected photos of each street that they chose to cover.

[Celerity]

DAMN you are observant. Wow.

ISRAEL TERRORIST #1

God, I wish I was driving around taking the pictures.

[Larry Lucido]

According to Google, the 2001 Taurus I sold last year is still parked in my driveway.