Google Street View, a function of Google Maps that allows users to zoom in on sites all over the world to see panoramic views of places from the ground, is serious about privacy, blurring license plates, people, some buildings, and, apparently, cows.
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Computer says no Why has Google Street View blurred out two ordinary British houses?
A cow roaming on a canal tow path has proved an internet hit – after someone spotted Google had given the same blur treatment normally given to human’s to protect their privacy.
The Guardian’s David Shariatmadari saw the bovine on StreetView which he promptly tweeted.
Moments before the cow’s face was in full view.
Shariatmadari shared his find saying: “Great to see Google taking cow privacy seriously”.
Google admitted its face-blurring technology had been “a little overzealous”.
‘Of course, we don’t begrudge this cow milking its five minutes of fame’.
The cow’s face can clearly be seen grazing near the river River Cam on an image taken slightly further away, but Google seems to have blurred it for a close-up view.
Udderly ridiculous or a story which should be heard?
The internet giant blurs people’s faces and auto registration plates caught on its mobile cameras while they are out harvesting images to power its 3D recreation of the world’s streets.
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So far the tweet has been liked more than 12,000 times.
