Montreal woman wins cash from Google for Street View cleavage
Stephan Dussault, QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 02:49 PM EDT
Google has been ordered to pay $2,250 to a city woman after an image of her cleavage showed up on Google Street View five years ago.
The unnamed woman was photographed sitting on the front steps of a Montreal home wearing a low-cut top and checking her phone on May 8, 2009. Five months later, when the images were uploaded to Google's Street View maps, the woman was horrified to discover her picture on it.
In the photo, her face was blurred out, but she argued in court she was easily recognizable and the photo was embarrassing because her tank top had slipped down to reveal more of her right breast than she had intended.
After the image hit Street View, the woman said some of her colleagues commented on the photo and teased her.
She contacted Google to have the image removed, but it took until 2011 for Google to completely blur out her home.
The woman sued Google seeking $7,000 in damages.
Google claimed the woman waived her right to privacy by sitting in her front yard where she was easily visible, but a Quebec judge disagreed.
In his Oct. 4 ruling, Judge Alain Breault said the woman "experienced a significant loss of personal modesty and dignity," and had to ensure "malicious comments and humiliation" at work. He ordered the company to pay her $2,250.
On its website, Google says it takes a number of steps to "help protect the privacy and anonymity of individuals" including blurring faces and licence plates.
A woman won $2,250 from Google after a revealing photo of her was included on Street View. (Courtesy)
Montreal woman wins cash from Google for Street View cleavage | Canada | News |
Stephan Dussault, QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 02:49 PM EDT
Google has been ordered to pay $2,250 to a city woman after an image of her cleavage showed up on Google Street View five years ago.
The unnamed woman was photographed sitting on the front steps of a Montreal home wearing a low-cut top and checking her phone on May 8, 2009. Five months later, when the images were uploaded to Google's Street View maps, the woman was horrified to discover her picture on it.
In the photo, her face was blurred out, but she argued in court she was easily recognizable and the photo was embarrassing because her tank top had slipped down to reveal more of her right breast than she had intended.
After the image hit Street View, the woman said some of her colleagues commented on the photo and teased her.
She contacted Google to have the image removed, but it took until 2011 for Google to completely blur out her home.
The woman sued Google seeking $7,000 in damages.
Google claimed the woman waived her right to privacy by sitting in her front yard where she was easily visible, but a Quebec judge disagreed.
In his Oct. 4 ruling, Judge Alain Breault said the woman "experienced a significant loss of personal modesty and dignity," and had to ensure "malicious comments and humiliation" at work. He ordered the company to pay her $2,250.
On its website, Google says it takes a number of steps to "help protect the privacy and anonymity of individuals" including blurring faces and licence plates.
A woman won $2,250 from Google after a revealing photo of her was included on Street View. (Courtesy)
Montreal woman wins cash from Google for Street View cleavage | Canada | News |
