submit to reddit

googlemap.pngEww! The Google Maps Zoom feature is getting creepy. A freaked out Boing Boing reader, Mary Kalin-Casey, says Google maps is spying on her cat.

“The new Google Maps zoom feature zooms all the way into my living room window. (See cat on cat perch.)
I’m all for mapping, but this feature literally gives me the shakes. I feel like I need to close all my curtains now. I’m going to look into whether it’s possible for a person to have pictures of their home removed from Google Maps. Meanwhile, I’m happy to show bb readers the photo in the interest of illustrating creepy privacy violations. Heck, the whole world can see him anyway.”

You can even tell that he’s a tabby.
The whole world also knows her home address.
One commenter says “You don’t have a right to ‘privacy’ over what can be seen while driving the speed limit past your house.”
Ah, but you do, since most people driving past your house aren’t photographing it and putting the image on the Internet. Scary, but fascinating, and sure to appeal to everyone’s inner voyeur. Also sure to lead to a heinous crime of opportunity or two. We live in interesting times.