CSC 379:Week 4, Group 6: Difference between revisions

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=Privacy of Search Content / Search Engines both Local (Desktop Search) and Internet=
=Mapping / Google Street View=
A recent proof-of-concept [http://www.hacker.co.il/security/ie/css_import.html exploit] of Internet Explorer allowed for the running of a search through Google Desktop for passwords on a user’s computer upon visiting a website containing the exploit scriptOperating systems, browsers, and other software like desktop searches keep a written history of user activities, of which many users are unaware of.  This poses a privacy threat to users as computers with content collected through the use of a variety of programs remains recoverable, even when thought to be deleted. Many business and government agencies implement technologies designed to obscure information on hard drives prior to allowing old computers out of their inventory. However for many non-tech-savvy consumers, such technologies are not implemented, or are impractical (as the case when a computer is disabled and needs repaired, or is confiscated as part of an investigation). In such cases, private information can be exposed, now ever more easily and thoroughly through the use of desktop search technologies.  With the Geek Squad allegedly stealing private information from computers serviced, and the government through use of the Patriot Act able to use information collected from a computer normally kept private and inadmissible in court, a number of ethical concerns have become more prevalent as it becomes easier to locate private information.  --  Internet search engines also pose a threat to privacy through maintenance of search logs as it may be possible for the government to use subpoenas to acquire normally private user search logs.  Google has responded by shortening the length of time it maintains search data, and other search engines have precautions in place as well to protect user privacyExamine the ethical issues regarding the privacy of searchable content and the impact of search engines both locally and internet based.  
Many are concerned about the invasiveness of satellite/aerospace imaging.  Governments have complained of risks related to the availability of images of sensitive military or strategic sites, sometimes requesting obfuscation or blackouts of the compromising images.  With the expansion of mapping technologies to the street level (see links below), more people have become concerned about how invasive to their privacy public photography can be.
==Resources==
 
===Relevant Class Website Links:===
Amongst many lawful and beneficial uses, mapping technologies have also made it easier for planning crimes.
* [http://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/abuse/wvt/ http://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/abuse/wvt/]
 
As mapping technoligies increase and images become clearer more and more protesters begin claim these photos as an invasion of privacy. Many people are calling for censorship of these photos and think there should regulations set on the clarity of images. Even though these technologies pose great privacy and security issues for literally everyone in the world i we must decide if censorship of public photographpy is ethical. Many people feel that they should have the right to say who can photograph propert they own.
 
=Google Street View=
==Overview==
[http://http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/ Google Street View] is a tool integrated into [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] that allows users to view routes from a street-level perspective.  This tool is only available for select locations, usually large cities such as Miami and San Francisco.  When using Street View, you are given a 360 degree view of the street from the perspective of a car on the street.  The view is generated from actual photographs taken of the streets.  There is a zoom feature incorporated into the view and people and private property are not censored by GoogleStreet View was developed as a tool to aid users in finding landmarks, shops, restaurants, and other points of interest in cities that would otherwise be foreign to a tourist or other traveler.  Another touted feature is that you can take a 'virtual walk' around a Street View enabled city. 
 
==Concerns==
===Individual's Rights===
There are several concerns that people have with Google Street View.  Many people function under the assumption that their everyday actions are not being watched.  Some of the Street View photographs, which are all readily accessible show people walking the streets or entering establishments.  Most of these pictures seem harmless, but there are a few that show men walking into adult-themed bookstores, or women laying out sunbathing.  Had these people known that they would be displayed to the world, they may have changed their plans for that particular day, and surely some of them would have never consented to these images being shown.  While there are some obvious benefits to Street View, if even one person is offended by the content of the images then there is reason for concern of the ethicality of the toolSome may argue that the pictures are taken from a public place, and would be visible to anyone who happened to be traveling through the area.  While this is compelling, one must also consider the fact that the people photographed may not have had a problem with being seen by the general public in small numbers, but would object to being seen by the millions of people that use Google. 
 
There are many questions that can be raised about Street View regarding individual's privacy rights. However, none break any actual laws since all pictures are taken in public places. Does that make it ok though? Is it ethical? If you are accidentally caught changing infront of the shower by Google Street View photographers should they remove the photo? Since it was obviously not their intent to take a picture of you naked it may be hard to hold them accountable. However, it would be in good ethical 'taste' to remove the pictures if so requested, eventhough it would not be required by law.
===Larger Scale Implications===
It's not just mapping on a street level that have ethical implications. Mapping technologies on a larger scale bring up other ethical issues. While being able to view satalite imagery may make it easier for you to find a place of business, it could also aid robbers in researching their next robbery victim. It could even help terrorists plan their next attack on a major landmark without even requiring them to visit their target. Satellite imagery could have a huge impact on national security. Should access to such information be restricted? and to who's laws should they conform to? This all depends on who has ownership of the information. If a Russian satellite is sailing over the United States and takes pictures of the White House they should be allowed to do whatever they want with those images, unless of course, they obtained them by breaking some law. This obviously has great implications if such information falls into the wrong hands, but, ethically, you can't deny or restrict someone use to something that is rightfully and legally theirs. The access to such information can not ethically be restricted, but perhaps the ways the information is obtained could.
 
==Regulation/Solutions==
Currently, Google has no real restriction on what will get put on the maps.  They will remove an image if there is a request and sufficient justification, but they report that there have been 'very few' removal requestsThis does not mean that people would not be offended by their image being on a globally-viewed map, it may just be that due to the nature of the maps, that people may be ignorant to the fact that their image is even thereWhile Google may be on solid legal ground,  there are a few options that have been posed by online communities that may offer a more responsible approach.
===Possible Solution===
*Censoring out images of people: Google could simply 'blur' out the faces of people caught by their camerasThis would address some of the individual's rights concerns, but it still leaves some of the other issues unresolved.
 
=Resources=
===Relevant External Links:===
*[http://maps.google.com/ Google Maps]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/technology/01private.html Google Zooms In Too Close for Some (New York Times)]
* [http://www.boingboing.net/2007/06/05/google_street_view_a.html Public Opinion on Google Street View (Boing Boing)]
* [http://jonsmith.greykitty.net/2007/07/09/google-street-view/ Google Street View at Arriving Somewhere]
* [http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0805/082405td2.htm Google satellite imaging software raises terrorism concerns]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/20/technology/20image.html?ei=5090&en=fc8a8529ca004e0c&ex=1292734800&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185755335-XtGDEBT8QrPTINYVSlN1wg Governments Tremble at Google's Bird's-Eye View]

Latest revision as of 20:52, 2 August 2007

Mapping / Google Street View

Many are concerned about the invasiveness of satellite/aerospace imaging. Governments have complained of risks related to the availability of images of sensitive military or strategic sites, sometimes requesting obfuscation or blackouts of the compromising images. With the expansion of mapping technologies to the street level (see links below), more people have become concerned about how invasive to their privacy public photography can be.

Amongst many lawful and beneficial uses, mapping technologies have also made it easier for planning crimes.

As mapping technoligies increase and images become clearer more and more protesters begin claim these photos as an invasion of privacy. Many people are calling for censorship of these photos and think there should regulations set on the clarity of images. Even though these technologies pose great privacy and security issues for literally everyone in the world i we must decide if censorship of public photographpy is ethical. Many people feel that they should have the right to say who can photograph propert they own.

Google Street View

Overview

Google Street View is a tool integrated into Google Maps that allows users to view routes from a street-level perspective. This tool is only available for select locations, usually large cities such as Miami and San Francisco. When using Street View, you are given a 360 degree view of the street from the perspective of a car on the street. The view is generated from actual photographs taken of the streets. There is a zoom feature incorporated into the view and people and private property are not censored by Google. Street View was developed as a tool to aid users in finding landmarks, shops, restaurants, and other points of interest in cities that would otherwise be foreign to a tourist or other traveler. Another touted feature is that you can take a 'virtual walk' around a Street View enabled city.

Concerns

Individual's Rights

There are several concerns that people have with Google Street View. Many people function under the assumption that their everyday actions are not being watched. Some of the Street View photographs, which are all readily accessible show people walking the streets or entering establishments. Most of these pictures seem harmless, but there are a few that show men walking into adult-themed bookstores, or women laying out sunbathing. Had these people known that they would be displayed to the world, they may have changed their plans for that particular day, and surely some of them would have never consented to these images being shown. While there are some obvious benefits to Street View, if even one person is offended by the content of the images then there is reason for concern of the ethicality of the tool. Some may argue that the pictures are taken from a public place, and would be visible to anyone who happened to be traveling through the area. While this is compelling, one must also consider the fact that the people photographed may not have had a problem with being seen by the general public in small numbers, but would object to being seen by the millions of people that use Google.

There are many questions that can be raised about Street View regarding individual's privacy rights. However, none break any actual laws since all pictures are taken in public places. Does that make it ok though? Is it ethical? If you are accidentally caught changing infront of the shower by Google Street View photographers should they remove the photo? Since it was obviously not their intent to take a picture of you naked it may be hard to hold them accountable. However, it would be in good ethical 'taste' to remove the pictures if so requested, eventhough it would not be required by law.

Larger Scale Implications

It's not just mapping on a street level that have ethical implications. Mapping technologies on a larger scale bring up other ethical issues. While being able to view satalite imagery may make it easier for you to find a place of business, it could also aid robbers in researching their next robbery victim. It could even help terrorists plan their next attack on a major landmark without even requiring them to visit their target. Satellite imagery could have a huge impact on national security. Should access to such information be restricted? and to who's laws should they conform to? This all depends on who has ownership of the information. If a Russian satellite is sailing over the United States and takes pictures of the White House they should be allowed to do whatever they want with those images, unless of course, they obtained them by breaking some law. This obviously has great implications if such information falls into the wrong hands, but, ethically, you can't deny or restrict someone use to something that is rightfully and legally theirs. The access to such information can not ethically be restricted, but perhaps the ways the information is obtained could.

Regulation/Solutions

Currently, Google has no real restriction on what will get put on the maps. They will remove an image if there is a request and sufficient justification, but they report that there have been 'very few' removal requests. This does not mean that people would not be offended by their image being on a globally-viewed map, it may just be that due to the nature of the maps, that people may be ignorant to the fact that their image is even there. While Google may be on solid legal ground, there are a few options that have been posed by online communities that may offer a more responsible approach.

Possible Solution

  • Censoring out images of people: Google could simply 'blur' out the faces of people caught by their cameras. This would address some of the individual's rights concerns, but it still leaves some of the other issues unresolved.

Resources

Relevant External Links: