Technology

Israel Becomes First Middle Eastern Country to Allow Google Street View Cameras

After six months of deliberation, Israel will allow Google Street View cameras to snap 360 degree photographs of its street, but only under certain conditions.

Israel Allows Google Street View With Stipulations

Google Street View car and bike equipped with cameras. (Photo: Flickr/Hodowaca)

The Associated Press reported that use of the tool in plotting terrorist attacks and privacy issues were concerns that prompted the Law, Information and Technology Authority to develop guidelines with Google for Google Street View. Although Google automatically blurs license plates and faces, here are some additional stipulations in the guidelines include according to Haaretz:

  • Google must provide citizens with an account of what Google Street View does and means, the rights of citizens and routes the camera crews will follow.
  • Users will be offered an efficient and reliable way online to blur residences and other objects.
  • Google must instruct Google Israel to heed legal proceedings in the country, meaning that any civil litigation brought by citizens against the company will be carried out in this country, despite the fact that Google’s main center is in the U.S.
  • Google has promised not to dispute criminal claims that might be raised against Street View by arguing that the Law, Information and Technology Authority lacks standing to prosecute criminal claims against the company in Israel.

    • Google “agreed to all of our requests,” said Moti Ohana, media adviser to Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor, who headed the committee, according to AP. But Ohana didn’t offer any other details on the arrangement. In allowing Google Street View to move forward, Israel has become the first Middle Eastern country to have this service roam its streets. Google Street View is available in more than 30 other countries on all seven continents.

    Haaretz has Google’s reaction:

    “We are happy that the Law, Information and Technology Authority has given clearance for the operation of Street View in Israel, and we hope to update our information in the near future,” Google said.

    AP reported Retired Lt. Col. Mordechai Kedar, who served in Israeli intelligence for 25 years, as saying he was not briefed on the security arrangements but that he assumes Google will be prohibited from photographing army bases.

    “God forbid a country should need to reveal its secret facilities just because Google invented something,” Kedar said. “The lives of people are more important, and the security of countries is more important.”

    Google Street View has been a controversial service in other countries like Germany where, after the cars were caught picking up data from Wi-Fi, it is no longer in the country. It’s also faced scrutiny in Switzerland, where the court ruled Google was invasive to citizens’ right to privacy and that Google should take greater measures to blur faces and license plates. France has already fined Google because of the car’s invasive actions, and Belgium is considering a fine as well.

    [H/T Paid Content]

    Comments (25)

    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on August 25, 2011 at 8:26pm

      Bad decision…

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
      Posted on August 25, 2011 at 4:24pm

      Holy $#!^, now Israel is suddenly in grave danger!

      Freakin ay. If anything it, IP addresses can be tracked and possible identify potential attacks. The EU thinks a little too highly of itself.

      Report Post » dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot  
    • RichEG
      Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:23am

      Great idea. Now the terrorists can plan the next attack from the comfort of their wireless basement. Idiots.

      Report Post » RichEG  
    • AmeriCat
      Posted on August 25, 2011 at 1:29am

      Disaster!
      The Liberal Jews got their way!

      Report Post »  
    • pjgroff61
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:29pm

      So let me get this straight. Google was at the forefront of the “Arab Spring” in Egypt. Google will continue to be intertwined with the Arabs in Egypt. Israel now allows Google to photo streets and such knowing that is how Hamas and Hizbullah target Israel by using google maps?/ Give me a break.
      This is probably ok with Ehud Barack.

      Report Post » pjgroff61  
    • ZengaPA65
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:24pm

      Those idiots.

      Report Post » ZengaPA65  
    • Eddie Buck
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 5:59pm

      Assassination machine!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • tharpdevenport
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 5:54pm

      Why is there even a conversation — just tell Google and it’s creepy leader to GO AWAY.

      It got to the point a couple months ago, after the last bit of “creepiness” from them, that I have stopped mentioning them by name or refering to them other than when telling somebody about their creepiness. I now use the phrase “an internet search” or alternative wording.

      In fact, I’ve gotten pretty fed up with the search results. The last year or so, it’s changed; now I get a ton of Obama supporting, left-wing liberal batguano, and Democrat favoritived results, often rallying against the very thing I searched. Try searching Israel, and read all the anti Israel listings. And often now I‘ve noted coservative sites won’t load — even on Google Cache.

      On a related creepy note: Hotmail recognizes TheBlaze as a potential threat and when you click on it to be okay, the warning changes, but will not go away and recognize TheBlaze as safe — it stays in red. I wonder if that’s the same way with e-mails from GlennBeck.com…

      Report Post » tharpdevenport  
    • SkunkWorks
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 5:19pm

      Nothing like giving the people who hate you ( anti-Israel terror groups) a way to plan to plan future attacks on Israel..

      Report Post »  
    • thomasdaddy
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:47pm

      The conspiracy theorists crack me up!!!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!

      Report Post » thomasdaddy  
    • TRILO
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:37pm

      I do not trust Google, Facebook, Twitter or any of the social media or search engines. They have all been involved in the Arab uprisings. Google was illegally downloading information from people’s wireless networks as they drove around communities. The executives at Google and the others have had their nose up the administrations a$$ and are in bed with the State Department. Who knows what these crooks are up to. I can be certain it is nothing good.

      Report Post » TRILO  
    • spirited
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:31pm

      Contracts,
      fines
      lawsuits…., Big Deal.
      Who, or what will prevent cameras on un-marked cars, bikes or people???
      …Ooops!

      Worldwide Banking
      Worldwide Trade
      World View
      …We are One World

      Yes WE Can!
      …Who is “WE” ?

      >There will be no going back, –once Googled.

      Report Post » spirited  
    • Todd P
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:05pm

      I’m sure Google would never be used by anyone to do anything bad….. like governments or terrorists or criminals planning attacks on civilians and their homes. Naw………..

      Report Post »  
    • The Sugarbear
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:02pm

      Soon the antichrist will no doubt love this.

      Report Post »  
    • olddog
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:01pm

      Well it looks like Glenn is supporting the Wrong country, Google is in bed with Obama and has already been caught trying to manipulate users not to mention their envolvement with starting the Egyptian riots… Hey anyone want to buy some Google underwear? There’s a camera on the fly..
      Doesn’t look like Israel ever heard of a Trojan Horse.. The Palestinians will Love the car camera, great for finding targets..

      Report Post » olddog  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 3:44pm

      Why does Israel or anyone else need Google Street View? It’s kind of cool but, is it necessary?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • christos
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 3:41pm

      ……Would not trust Gulag Google…ever.

      Report Post » christos  
      • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
        Posted on August 24, 2011 at 3:44pm

        Indeed, the terrorists will be all over this instantly looking for their next targets.

        Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
      • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
        Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:44pm

        Do they also add GPS coordinates in Google Street view? I do not use Google at all, as I do not trust any of them for the same reasons as TRILO posted above. Having a target’s street address and GPS coordinates would be of great help to any terrorist.

        Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Gary Fishaholic
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 3:39pm

      This can’t be good is this a set up sure seems like a bad idea to me. Just saying

      Report Post » Gary Fishaholic  
      • AmeriCat
        Posted on August 25, 2011 at 1:31am

        Not good. Google = Obama = Muslim Brotherhood…

        Report Post »  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 3:37pm

      now locating potential targets by hamas is capable with the click of a mouse

      not really smart

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on August 24, 2011 at 3:36pm

      Okay. boys and girls. Let’s play count the submachineguns!

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
      • loriann12
        Posted on August 24, 2011 at 4:17pm

        OOOOOhhh, but it’s ok because they can blur things…..do we have that capability? i’d blur my whole dang neighborhood.

        Report Post »  

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