You have to look a little bit deeper to understand why people don't want to simply let google get away with what they do around streetview.
For once, google has actually stored data e.g. from email being sent while scanning the networks. That's not a good thing for sure. They apologized for it, but in general people suspect they have done it deliberately and are reluctant to just accept their excuses.
Secondly, not everyone feels comfortable to be photographed and published to the world. Their option to get your photo erased or garbled IS an opt-out, instead of an opt-in. Trouble is google can't tell you "look we've shot you here, and here, and there. please let us know how you want to proceed.". Also, on your end, there's no way to find out where you've been shot exactly. Maybe you have been shot picking your nose, or embracing your secret lover, pissing at a wall, driving another person's car or whatnot, all of which could potentially being extremely embarrassing, if not potential harmful for your social life.
If people wander around your house and take a photo, chances are that it won't be posted anywhere, not to speak of posted on a site that surely all your neighbors will look at at one point in time.
Thirdly, my mother has a WLAN, she not of the internet generation that much I can tell you. She can have a WLAN because nowadays even she can install one, because they pretty much run out-of-the-box. However, she's never heard of that WLANs have to be secured. This generation doesn't think that far. You can't just assume that everyone is sensitive of internet security things. Luckily she has sons who can tell her how it works, but that's not true for everyone.
I like the google streetview service, but I think the following should (have) happen(ed):
- google must not store WLAN information at all. Doesn't give any benefit to streetview anyway
- google must use a software to auto wipe-out all people or faces from their streetview shots. People faces add nothing important to streetview
I believe if they would have done these 2 things, everyone would be easy about streetview.
Frank
