Here are two items that speak to the evolving question of what is public and what should (perhaps) stay private.<\/p>\n
The first is about Google’s continuing efforts to make everything (or as much as possible) available on line.<\/p>\n
Google Maps already renders the world as a giant data base, with ordinary maps, astonishing satellite imagery, and layers of information applied over all that. As most of you already know, there’s also something called Street View. Depending on where you live, it renders a 360 degree, still-photo panoramic view of public spaces.<\/p>\n
That’s been controversial, of course. On the one hand, the idea that your front yard, my front yard (heck, all<\/em> front yards!) might soon be on record for anyone to see can create unease. On the other hand, it’s awfully handy! I can’t even count how many potential neighborhoods and properties I viewed this way as part of my own house hunt over the past few years.<\/p>\n In the U.S. at least, the press and individuals already have the right to explore public<\/em> space, and take photos (or videos) almost at will. (There are exceptions, as with laws in some states that prohibit non-consensual recordings or video taping police and other officials, etc.)<\/p>\n But should that existing, general right (to see and use ‘public’ information) be any different when it’s put into world-wide access by corporations like Google?<\/p>\n