Google Street View car

Is this the end of web-based privacy for Israelis? Google Street View, the service featured in Google Earth that provides panoramic views from various positions along many streets in the world, is finally coming to Israel, after being approved by the state’s Justice Minister.

The Minister of Justice granted Street View the green light to shoot the streets of Israeli cities, after long debates weighing the pros and cons of doing so. The service, constantly criticized over privacy issues - some horrific and inappropriate pictures, allows the user to roam the city’s streets as if he was on a walking tour.

Since every country is sensitive to its citizens’ safety and privacy, Google automatically blurs cars’ license plates and faces caught in the camera lens. But in Israel, that just doesn’t cut it because there is also fear that terrorists would take advantage of Google Earth or Google Maps, in order to plan their attacks.

Therefore, the service was approved in Israel only under some very specific conditions were met, including:: making Google Israel accountable for the service so the company could be sued if there is a need, as well as reaching an agreement with Google ensuring that vital. strategic locations will not be photographed while photos that violate citizens’ privacy, won’t be uploaded.

This, by the way, isn’t the first time Street View made Google’s life harder. In 2010, the controversial service got Google in some hot water when it was revealed that the company’s crew was secretly entering unprotected WiFi networks (they came across) and gathering information about their owners. As a result, Google was fined 100,000 euros, by French authorities.

In addition, Google began to blur faces only after a hard, long legal battle. An affair, which was rather embarrassing for the company, portrayed Google as an “enemy” of privacy and personal space.