Google Street View Reopens and Solved Mugging Cold Case

In a bizarre story out of the Netherlands, Google’s Street View feature was able to be used to catch two twin muggers who allegedly robbed a 14 year old boy of around $230.

The alleged mugging occurred last year, yet months past and no suspects were caught or arrested. However, after the boy took a look at Google Maps’s Street View camera of the area where the mugging occurred, he saw a picture of the two muggers which was taken during the crime.

The image was apparently blurry, yet Netherlands officials attained the original images from Google and arrested the muggers. There have been many complaints against Google for its Street View application, which now covers thousands of miles in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. The project has drawn stern criticism from privacy authorities as images often peer into private property (people’s homes) and reveal people’s identity without their consent. Google has addressed the latter concern through the use of face blurring technology since May 2008.

The program has also drawn security concerns with the government. According to Wikipedia, “The Pentagon has banned Google from publishing Street View content of U.S. Military bases and asked Google to remove existing content of bases. Google has complied with this order.

Still, this is one clear example of the positive and unexpected impacts that new technology can have.