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Google Street View in Israel

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Linda Olive (talk | contribs) at 17:23, 22 April 2012 (→‎Background). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Google Car in Jerusalem

Google Street View began in Israel in April 2012. Israel is the first country in the Middle East to see non-museum Street View. First, on April 3, the interior of the Israel Museum was introduced. Then on April 19, three days ahead of the planned formal launch, the country's three largest cites, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, along with a number of other landmarks, came public.[1][2] The imagery even offers views of some contested sites.[3]

Background

When Street View was originally considered for Israel in 2011, multiple concerns arose, particularly with security, since Israel has had a long history of terrorist attacks. Israeli officials authorized Street View after three months of negotiations to define conditions to protect privacy.[1] Consideration favoring Street View was that it would provide a boost to the economy by boosting tourism.[4][5]

The Israeli Intelligence Minister refused to divulge details in the final security arrangement that was made.[6]

Filming of Street View in Israel began in September 2011.[1] This included the use of tricycles to film areas of the Old City and other paths not accessible by motor vehicle.[7]

Places found

Full cities

Landmarks

Future

Issues

There was much controversy surrounding bringing Street View to Israel. The main one was the fear that terrorists could use the feature to plan attacks. Palestinian militants have previously admitted to using Google Maps to help plan attacks.[2]

The Israeli government has permitted Street View to be in the country provided the following conditions have been met:

  • Allowing any court cases related to Street View to take place in Israeli courts
  • Google will not challenge Israeli law
  • Google provides a method for users to request images be blurred or removed
  • Google must inform the public in advance of its planned routes.
  • Images would not reveal license plate numbers or home addresses and would obscure the faces of people on streets[1]

A public poll found that 70% of Israelis support Street View.[2]

Google Israel CEO Meir Brand stated that the areas that the filming was not politically motivated, the areas that would be photographed would be accessible to the public, and that there would be sensitivity to cultural and security needs.[7]

Google was criticized by Ultra-Orthodox Jews for filming that took place on the holy day of Rosh Hashanah, and then afterwards agreed not to engage in filming on future holy days.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Elad Benari (April 20, 2012). "Google Street View in Israel Three Days Early". Israel National News. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Matt McGee (April 19, 2012). "Google Street View Images Now Online In Israel". SearchEngineLand. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Google Street View comes to Israel". Associated Press. April 22, 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  4. ^ Sam Ser (April 20, 2012). "Google Street View images of Israel go online". Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  5. ^ Roy Goldenberg (12 September 2011). "Google begins collecting Israel images for Street View". Globes. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  6. ^ Daniel Estrin (August 22, 2011). "Dropping concern, Israel allows Google Street View". UT San Diego News. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  7. ^ a b Inbal Bornzweig (Septber 12, 2011). "Google Israel launches Street View project". Haaretz. Retrieved 20 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d "Google Street View in Israel to go online". JTA. April 16, 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
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