Couple lose privacy case against Google

US magistrate judge has thrown out a legal claim from a Pittsburgh couple that Google’s street view feature violated their privacy.

Aaron and Christine Boring took legal action against Google after photos of their home appeared on the free mapping program. Google’s street view displays 360-degree photographs taken by specially equipped Google vehicles. The couple accused Google of trespassing, privacy violation, negligence and unjust enrichment. Mr and Mrs Boring were seeking $25,000 in damages but judge Amy Reynolds has thrown out the claim. She said: "While it is easy to imagine that many whose property appears on Google's virtual maps resent the privacy implications, it is hard to believe that any - other than the most exquisitely sensitive - would suffer shame or humiliation." Google has stated that they respect individual privacy and provide ways for the privacy to be maintained. The BBC reported that in a statement Google said:

"We blur identifiable faces and licence plates in Street View and we offer easy-to-use removal tools so users can decided for themselves whether or not they want a given image to appear.

“It is unfortunate the parties involved decided to pursue litigation instead of making use of these tools,"