Japanese Protest Google Privacy Invasions
Japanese quality of life and humanitarian advocates are referring to Google as that big, bad IT behemoth formerly known as Cyberdyne Systems (Terminator movies).
“It is necessary to warn society that an IT giant is openly violating privacy rights, which are important rights that the citizens have, through this service.”
They are calling for a ban of Google street view for Japanese cities. Google thinks it’s cool to video tape everyone’s neighborhoods and homes and put it onto the Internet for the public to peruse. Not everyone agrees this is a good idea. The question is, does Google need permission? Perhaps a better question is, did Google ever think to ask?
It’s too easy to point to some good that comes from these innovations to justify any objections. History reminds us that major wars have resulted from social blunders and insulting indifference. Just as overly-direct, geeky nerds are often considered abrupt and rude due to their tendency to overlook basic common courtesies, Google has become a humanitarian embarassment. Yes, it’s way cool to do amazing things with public data. No, it’s not cool to force it down our throats.
Here’s to hoping Google gets a clue before someone starts throwing more shoes.
December 21st, 2008 at 6:44 pm
There’s an interesting case study of Google Streetview being culturally insensitive by NOT capturing some parts of Japan.
Hitherto hidden communities of ‘discriminated people’ called Burakumin have been publicly revealed by being blanked out of Google Streetview.
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/11/14/japan-street-view-and-the-blanking-out-of-discriminated-communities/
These previously unhindered communities have been subjected to increasing discrimination crimes. Ouch! If only they thought about the impact of blanking out these parts of Japan beforehand…
December 30th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I never really thought about it, but I guess the Japanese have a point, then again as a kid I in New Zealand, I remember New Zealanders being very paranoid about the number of photos Japanese tourist were taking, saying that Japan was constructing a big map of the whole country, so they could invade it, and know where everything was.
Can you just imagine the size of that map, and just how it would look, lol…. funny thing was, when people started looking at the google maps, and finding their homes, they all thought it was really cool, perhaps it’s just a sign of the times.
May 4th, 2009 at 11:42 am
The ancestors of the Burakumin are angry at the wrong people. Japanese companies screen for Burakumin ancestors and in turn refuse to hire them. This is discrimination, and in more democratically developed countries it is outlawed. Would Americans think it acceptable to hide maps of former slave residences and then turn a blind eye to companies refusing employment to an individual based on their ancestry, color, creed, or sex?? It has happened in America and because of this there are laws against it and people can sue for their equality. The Burakumin should be angry at their government and the companies that discriminate against them but perhaps it is easier to hope that everyone will eventually forget. Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:39 am
This is discrimination, and in more democratically developed countries it is outlawed. Would Americans think it acceptable to hide maps of former slave residences and then turn a blind eye to companies refusing employment to an individual based on their ancestry, color, creed, or sex?? It has happened in America and because of this there are laws against it and people can sue for their equality. The Burakumin should be angry at their government and the companies that discriminate against them but perhaps it is easier to hope that everyone will eventually forget. Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.