City uses Google Earth to spy on citizens
August 31, 2010 by Shane BorerPosted in: Business Blunders, Latest News
Relaxing in the pool, a drink in your hand — the only thing missing is a hefty fine from a city that’s spying on you with satellites.
Folks of Riverhead, Long Island, were in for a surprise when officials started using Google Earth’s satellite image service to scan backyards across the city. What were they looking for? People with residential pools who never obtained the proper permits. So far, the city has spotted around 250 pools, and all owners have been asked to either obtain permits or pay hefty fines.
More than $75,000 has been collected with the aid of Google Earth.
Riverhead’s chief building inspector, Leroy Barnes, Jr., has said “pool safety has always been my concern,” and the city just wants to ensure that residents’ electrical and plumbing work meets local and state regulations.
But citizens claim the “Big Brother” action is all about the money. Lillie Coney, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, D.C., says it’s becoming a more common move for cash-strapped local governments. “The technology is going so far ahead of what people think is possible,” said Coney.
Google claims it doesn’t know of any other local governments using its Google Earth program in a similar fashion.
Tags: Big brother, Google Earth, Riverhead
September 1st, 2010 at 7:54 pm
This is something that has been done for a long time. This use to be done using aerial photographs of the land tracts originally used for surveying. It really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. They will get you sooner or later anyway.
Now it is just cheaper and updated more often.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Getting proper permits is the law. If you choose to disobey the law, you automatically choose to pay the consequences.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:21 pm
If we are talking in-ground pools, I say spy all you want, but it if’s above ground pools, the I say mind your own business. I am sick and tired of the government at all levels charging us taxes, permits, fines and every other thing they can think of….
September 1st, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I completely disagree with RandiG in regards to this article. If you break the law you suffer the consequence yeah got that – BUT the way the city is cracking down on the “permit rule breakers” is 100% unacceptable. We are losing our rights and for anyone to say its ok above ground or below ground pools are in strong need of a head/brain examination. If you say this is ok for pools what do you think will be the excuse next. Don’t be morons people!
September 1st, 2010 at 9:02 pm
I say lets go one step further, Lets place web cams in police, fire and other government building so tax payers can watch tax dollars at work. Let’s make sure we are getting out monies worth.
September 1st, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I am surprised they are not looking at decks, fences, sheds, etc. also. Backyard upgrades are the primary area in which a homeowner does not pull a permit. i know a few municipalities who used Google Earth to invalidate claims that a deck had “been there already”.
September 1st, 2010 at 10:22 pm
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September 2nd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
So the “city just wants to ensure that residents’ electrical and plumbing work meets local and state regulations.” Will an inspector actually go to the home and inspect the pool installation, or will the city merely collect the fee and forget about it? That quote is government-speak for “We want your money.”
On one hand, I agree with RandiG that if residents are required to obtain a permit for a pool installation, then the city has a right to go after those who install unpermitted. While many homeowners see this as a burden, the process serves a purpose. There are a lot of unscrupulous contractors who do shoddy work that is not to code and hence, in many cases, present a risk of injury or death. E.g. faulty electrical work.
On the other hand, using Google does smack of Big Brother. For those of us who remember the “good old days” of how things were done, this seems intrusive. But look at it this way: it’s an efficient tool to use and maybe they’re saving tax money by not having to hire another inspector.
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Lawful, they want to catch people now complying with the laws, are they actually aware of the fact that they are invading the privacy of thier citizens. Hey, if I want to make love to my wife in my enclosed backyard at 2:00 in the agter noon, thats my bussiness. I should be able to perform this act of love without feeling “EYES UPON ME”. Personnally I dont believe Google or anyone, as far as that goes, should be allowed to view what they are viewing from space let alone make it availible to the general public. If we all have that much power and you see nothing wrong with it, I say the authorities should be allowed to tap your phone without cause, or search your house because they are bored. Get real people technology has grown much faster than we as a race could ethically mature. As a matter of fact due to the boom in technology ethicallyand morally I THINK WE ARE BACKSLIDING.
September 2nd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
If you think you are not being spied upon already, you are living in a dreamworld. Think about how long it takes to get a (private) cell phone conversation on the news when something happens. It’s great that these lawbreakers are being checked.