Region's streets on Google Street View
PHOTOGRAPHS of you, your house and even your car could be viewed by anyone in the world from tomorrow.
Snaps of street scenes across East Yorkshire will be added to Google's online Street View service.
Users can zoom in on images and take a virtual walk along whole streets.
The tool, providing 360-degree images of public roads, was launched in the UK in March last year.
Initially, the service included images of 25 cities.
Hull and the East Riding is in the last batch of areas to be photographed by Google's Street View team.
The news has been met with both outrage and delight across the region.
John Dowson, 37, of North Bar Without in Beverley, will request his house is removed.
He said: "It's an infringement of people's civil liberties. It seems wrong that the default is people can opt out rather than opt in to have their houses pictured.
"People like my elderly mother won't be aware their house is online and wouldn't know what to do about it."
David Whiteland, 75, of Beverley, said: "I suppose it is a sign of the times, but I don't like the idea of my house being on it.
"It is an invasion of privacy. I will be removing myself."
But David Westwood, 61, of Saltshouse Road in east Hull, does not feel his privacy has been invaded.
He said: "It shows just what anyone can see when they walk down the street.
"I think it's a great tool. My son and his family emigrated to New Zealand and we've been able to go online and have a look around where he lives."
Joan Goodwin, 43, of east Hull, said: "People can request that Google remove their house or picture of themselves so I don't see what all the fuss is about."
Google has said it expects an influx of such requests following the full launch.
The company has received hundreds of requests for images to be removed, including pictures of people leaving sex shops or vomiting in the street. To protect privacy, Street View automatically blurs faces and vehicle number plates.
A spokesperson for Google said: "We try to blur everyone, so people are not identifiable.
"The image blurring is not perfect. If we have missed anyone out, we apologise about that.
"The technology for blurring can also be overzealous."
In one instance, Colonel Sanders's face on a sign belonging to fast food giant KFC was blurred.
"It usually only takes 24 hours after a report for it to be removed," said the spokesperson.
"People without access to the Internet can also write and we will deal with their request."
The online search giant also stressed that people can request pictures to be removed for whatever reason.
The spokesperson said: "People can simply report an inappropriate image using an icon at the bottom of the picture.
"It may be themselves, their house or their car. It doesn't matter what the reason is."
The technology can be used by people to get directions, check out a holiday destination or restaurant, get a helping hand with geography homework, or just get to know their town better.
Google says the tool is very popular with house-hunters.
Businesses can benefit from the technology by embedding Google Maps into their websites to help visitors locate them.
Tourism and business chiefs in the region have welcomed the news.
Janet Reuben, chief executive of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, said: "The Internet is a powerful tool for prospective visitors, allowing them to explore an area before they arrive. Having this resource for Hull and East Yorkshire will allow people to get a taste of the culture and beauty of the area and it has the potential to inspire more tourists to come and see it with their own eyes."
Richard Kendall, of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: "We will be encouraging businesses to make use of this very useful tool.
"This is very good news for the area."
If you spot a funny image on Street View, or a picture you are concerned about, call the Mail on (01482) 389112 or email c.tanner@mailnewsmedia.co.uk
45 Comments
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by Jon, Ex Beverley
Friday, March 12 2010, 1:48AM
“And back to street view bbeing an invasion on privacy...absolute b******s, what more can you see on this street view that you cant on foot (especially as when your on foot you can read car number plates and see peoples faces, whereas street view you cant) Another beverley folk complaining because they are scared to develop into a technical town and want to remain in the dark ages... well you stay there and dont come crying to us in years to come when Beverley is an old fasioned middle aged town with nothing to offer!! You keep saying no to fast food restaurants, nightclubs, bypasses the list goes on and always will and thats why i saw the light ang moved away back to Hull :D. Once again brilliant idea from Google... More than in favour!”
by Big John, Hull
Friday, March 12 2010, 1:40AM
“This was taken after august 8th as that was when i bought y car which is seen down my street... also I have Hull City stickers in my car that ii if remember correctly bought a couple of weeks after buying the car!! i think it was late august early september 2008, as the weather also suggests (But definately after 8/8/2008)...Brilliant idea!!! Love It!!”
by Lilly, East Hull
Thursday, March 11 2010, 11:54AM
“Mark is right, deffo was done before this year as theres a desk outside my house that was removed just after Christmas.
As for 192.com, well that site is better then it use to be. Previously it was free to use and yes youre all right, it is an identity fraudsters wet dream......Shame the Government dont act on websites like this BUT as per theyre too busy counting their expense claims to worry about us 'common people'”
by mark, hull
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:49AM
“ohh and if you goto the junction bev rd and freetown way you can still see Las standing in the background”
by mark, hull
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:37AM
“new evidence that these street pictures was not taken YESTERDAY i moved out of my flat to live back home and when i moved i got rid of my old fridge freezer and its on the picture of my street
THIS WAS JUNE 2008”
by mark, hull
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:28AM
“whoever thinks that these pictures was taken yesterday and published online today you are really a joke. these pictures was taken ALONG time ago. How i know this is because someone else is sat in my mates garden with a dog ive never seen before an other garden stuff which wasnt there 6 hours ago when i left, so you have to think about it, thoes saying ohh im on camera yesterday you are full of it seriusly the internet is fast but it aint that fast the whole of hull in 1 day your having a laugh”
by Alf Hart, Springbank Hull
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 8:14PM
“Yes I am well familiar with 192.com, another evil site. A few years ago I contacted them and demanded they take all my personal information off the site, which to be fair they did. However I went through the stage of reporting them to the Information Commissioner, who was very helpful, but 192 had bought the electoral roll in "good faith", so my complaint came to nowt. However it was made clear to me that the electoral registration form had changed and they introduced an "opt-out" of the commercial register, which I have done for the past 7 years or so. The full electoral roll is kept for the credit reference agencies but the cut down commercial version is sold to anyone who wants it - thus you become a sales target.
ANd I still think publishing street photos is abhorrent and can someone justify who gave Google the right? Just because some people don't mind doesn't mean we all do. I object most strongly. I used to live with a druggie and I do NOT want to be found thank you very much - unless you've had all your money and furniture sold for drugs you cannoy understand the debt, and horror of living with a £300 per week heroin addict. It's terrible, so please have a bit of sympathy. Thank folks.”
by Grumpy Old Man, Market Rasen
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:34PM
“How on earth can this be a breach of civil liberties? All they are doing is photographing what is already in the public domain. If it is in public domain then you can photograph. Faces, house names, number plates etc are blanked out. If the only concern is a few 'heavies' finding you then it is you at fault not Google.”
by Grumpy Old Man, Market Rasen
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:34PM
“How on earth can this be a breach of civil liberties? All they are doing is photographing what is already in the public domain. If it is in public domain then you can photograph. Faces, house names, number plates etc are blanked out. If the only concern is a few 'heavies' finding you then it is you at fault not Google.”
by The Elite, Molescroft Beverley
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 5:55PM
“Us folks of Beverlai are very cross, we were not given notice of these photographs. We needed to have our perms & blue rinses done and manicured the lawn. The police would have curfewed the Chavs & Coun Pineapples County hall could have displayed the O.B.E. for everyone to see. Oh its just not sporting... tally ho.”