Argentinian Policeman Awarded $12,500 for Inadvertent Exposure on Google Street View

An Argentinian police officer has successfully claimed compensation amounting to approximately $12,500 after being inadvertently captured in the nude by a Google Street View camera while in his garden. The ruling came from a local court, underscoring issues of privacy and the responsibilities of digital mapping services.

In 2017, the incident occurred when the officer was enjoying a private moment in his backyard in a small Argentinian town. At that moment, a Google Street View vehicle passed by, capturing an image that not only displayed the officer's exposed body but also revealed identifiable details such as his house number and the street name. The image quickly became a topic of ridicule on social media and local television.

The officer argued that the publication of the photo led to significant embarrassment and ridicule at his workplace and within his community. Initially, his claim was dismissed by a lower court, which stated that the officer was at fault for being nude in a garden visible from the street, implying a lack of prudence on his part. Google also argued that the height of the wall surrounding the garden was inadequate to shield the officer from view.

However, the appellate court took a different stance, recognizing a clear violation of the officer's right to privacy. The judges awarded him compensation, stating that the image was taken not in a public space but rather in a private area, thus constituting a serious breach of privacy. The court emphasized that Google could not evade responsibility for what they termed a 'grave error.'

To support their decision, the judges pointed out that Google has established policies to protect privacy, such as blurring faces and license plates in Street View images. They noted that in this case, the officer's entire naked body was visible, which should have warranted greater caution on Google's part.

Other entities, including a telecommunications company and a news website involved in disseminating the image, were absolved of liability, as their actions contributed to highlighting the error made by Google.

Google has previously faced scrutiny regarding its Street View service, particularly concerning privacy violations. In 2019, the company settled a lawsuit by paying $13 million related to the collection of private data through Street View. In another instance in 2010, Google compensated a couple with a symbolic amount for unauthorized images of their home taken for the service. In Germany, Street View has faced public backlash, with privacy advocates urging caution and the need for users to renew requests to obscure unwanted images.

The recent ruling serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between privacy rights and the capabilities of digital mapping technologies, prompting discussions about the balance that must be struck in the age of digital surveillance.