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Google's Street View captures the moment a drunken Aussie keeled over outside his home
Last updated at 21:16pm on 11.08.08
A man who fell asleep in a drunken stupor on the grass outside his home was horrified to find his embarrassment posted on the internet.
He had been drowning his sorrows over the death of a friend and collapsed after climbing out of a taxi.
As he slept off his excesses, a car-mounted video camera passed by to record pictures of the street for Google's StreetView website.
Down and out ... Bill pictured on Google's Street View mapping tool.
Within days a photographic record of the neighbourhood and its unusual presence was available for worldwide viewing.
The new Google service has been at the centre of controversy over claims it represents a breach of privacy.
But the latest victim, who gave his name only as 'Bill', is not planning an official complaint.
'I'm not too happy about it' said Bill.
'I mean, I wouldn't have been there in the state that I was in, but I wasn't really thinking there would be someone driving by with a video camera on the roof filming me, either,' Bill, 36, said from northern Australia, where he is working with a fishing company.
'What do you do when you lose a mate like that?' he said of his pal, with whom he had been planning a motorbike holiday around the island of Tasmania.
'I know what he would have done if I left - he would have partied, too. That's what I would've wanted him to do so that's what I did with some friends.'
Bill said he accepted he could not expect to have complete privacy in a public street, but he questioned whether his embarrassing moment should be broadcast over the internet.
Street View was launched in Australia last week and since then there have been a number of complaints about what has been captured on the video camera.
One woman who wrote to a Sydney newspaper said she was mortified after logging onto the site.
'Both my parents were pictured outside their house, but my dad passed away a month ago,' said Janice Creenaune.
'While recognising that Google-time is never real-time, the image renews the raw loss,' she said.
Another letter writer, Elizabeth Maher was, however, delighted.
'While others may have legitimate complaints about Google publishing pictures of their house, I was delighted to view ours, with me pictured hard at work in the garden, complete with broom and bucket, thereby dispelling any uncertainty as to who is the gardener in the family.'
A spokesman for Google Australia, Mr Rob Shilkin, said the company had taken significant steps to protect the privacy of individuals, including face-blurring and tools for people to flag sensitive imagery for removal.
Since Bill's case became known to Google Australia, his embarrassing sleep-in has been removed from the site.
Reader views (28)
"- Steve, sydney, australia
When do we get to see "inside" the homes? ?"
Arrest this man, NAOW
- Ed, Essex,hell
I am really gonna be careful when I get drunk and take a leak outside!
- Jtg, lancaster, usa
How many people actually read the article? He said he understands he can't expect full privacy in a public street.
I think it is absolutely hilarious. And I bet once Bill knows Google has taken his picture off, he will think it's hilarious too.
- Les, Vancouver, Canada
Hilarious! Aussies love to party. If you are going to get that wasted then you had better pay the piper in the morning?
They need to interview Mr. Bill on what kind of drink he was on the night before and how his evening was? I'm sure there is a good story behind his drunk foolish ways and how he ended up on google street view. I'd like google street view to camp out in some bad neighbourhoods, convenient stores so we could have more laughs at others expense.
- Joe Dip, Portland, Oregon
We have fences and hedges for yards and doors, walls, and curtains for houses. If you are doing something you don't want the world to see, you do it there, not in public. What is the difference between my cruising down a street on Google and cruising down the street in a car, or even a tour bus?
- L Swinford, Springfield, USA
Nice, at least he landed on soft grassy spot, I've seen drunks sleep in worse places. Like on a concrete slab with an empty beer case as a pillow, that made for a funny picture. Sometimes you have to sleep it off let the cards fall where they may or drunks.
To James in East Meadow- the technology is not that good yet, if so why would I drive myself around like a chump if some computer could do it for me. that's naive
To Mark in Oceanside - above the law? that's a laugh, Google just provides a free service. Recording in public areas is not against the law in a free society, maybe in red China. The cabbie did his job, he drove him home safe. He should tuck him in to bed, too? ridiculous.
- Ga Bulldog, Athens, GA USA
Sorry for your loss "Bill". If you complained to Google they would take the image offline. They do it all the time.
As for the Google service, I love it. I use it all the time when I go to new places. I look for where to park my car, and what the area looks like before I go there. It makes for great planning.
Privacy concerns? The images are taken from the public streets. It is things you can see from the road if you drove there. You have no expectation of privacy from a public road.
- Chris, Houston, Texas, USA
Public mugshots are much more detailed (be thankful you didn't get arrested. "Next on google Earth, see the man bent over a police car!") I understand your loss, and this is why some choose to grieve in private.
Everybody dies... I m sorry, but it true. Its why you were born and is the biggest test of life. I agree with the previous poster. "Enjoy the free happier memory."
Bottom line. If you don't want people to see you, then don't go outside. Anyone could have a camera, and anyone could be filming you or somewhere near you that could include you. So stay inside. If someone wants a picture of you bad enough, they will get it, regardless of what you do. (examples exist abound with magazines like Enqiurer, Star, even Playboy once published "private" pictures of "someone" who was sunbathing at their home.) Did they get sued out of existence. No. And neither will Google.
Jim
- Jimmy, easthampton ma
"Bill". Sorry for your loss. However, Google has done you a favor. This is your opportunity. Get on top of this notoriety now. Myspace, facebook, etc. You have a worldwide audience. Make the most of it.
- Condor Actual, Georgia,USA
At least he took a cab home...
- Uncle Bob, Rock Hill, NY
The Google car didn't stop because no one drives the google car. You see, with google maps and live traffic routes going to the computer google satellites drive the car. sans human. just plain cool man.
- James Murray, East Meadow NY
I have to agree that passing by someone that may be having a medical emergency is callous but also being passed out drunk on the side of the road is funny.
- Don, Lowell, MA USA
Maybe they did stop to check him out and concluding he was in a drunken stupor, passed on, what would you do? Hold his head while he puked over your shoes?
The privacy concern is a bit rich - there's no expectation of privacy on a public street and to the woman who's Dad passed away last month, enjoy a picture of happier times and quit whining like you're the only one who's ever had a parent die.
Google is a free service, no likee, no usee.
- Lydia Pynke, new orleans
I agree with Steve, from Franklin. But in addition to Google's "inside" view, I want more! What about "Google Bone Marrow View"? When will Google finally get around to putting cameras inside the average Joe on the street. I want to know how people really live, and how their red blood cells are produced. That's what we really want to see, Google, something truly invasive!
- Sean S., krefeld, germany
This incident is a good and clear indication of the callous disregard Google has for others. It is clear they think they are above the law, morality, and ethical behaviour.
Why did the cabbie fail to call for help?
More disgusting, whey did the Google camera operator NOT stop to render aid? Simple, hubris and disregard for others.
- Mark, Oceanside, CA, USA
I don't think you have a cause to complain if you pass out on the sidewalk but the bit that concerns me is that the guy in the Google car (and presumably others) drove by without thinking about whether this guy was ok or not. Lucky he wasn't suffering from a stroke or heart attack or been mugged.
- Steve, sydney, australia
When do we get to see "inside" the homes? Why is Google dragging their feet on this? "My God", don't they realize it's 2008 already?
- Steve, Franklin, OH U.S.A.
I certainly feel sorry for the guy to have gone through this embarrassment, but this is one of those times when the public value of the service offered by Google outweighs the private embarrassment that an individual may feel for having their indiscretions broadcast on the web. Google should take more care that these images do not get published to their site, but what level of privacy can someone expect when he or she is out in public.
I also find it a little amusing that this guy seems to be embarrassed not for having fallen asleep drunk on a curb, but that it was aired on the internet. I'd be far more embarrassed for my neighbours having seen what happened than some stranger half way around the world.
- Brett Champion, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen! Why is the gumba embarrassed? He can be a real celebrity is certain parts of the world.
This is why I like drunks, they add humour to the world!
- Bob Schnitzengrubben, Kokomo, Brazil
It was bound to happen sooner or later. Just wait until someone's house is being robbed & the bad guys show up on Street View; or someone's cheating spouse gets caught because of it. Won't that be fun!
What I'd like to know is why didn't the camera car guy stop to see if 'Bill' was injured & needed assistance? Even if he was drunk, he shouldn't have been left lying on the curb. That's just wrong.
- Daralynn, Austin, TX
People really need to get over themselves. Bill - your own mother wouldn't recognize you in that pic. I doubt if you could even prove it was you. If anything, you should be enjoying your 15 minutes of fame (better than the infamy of the some of the people of the 'northern suburbs).
As for Janice, your dad is there for the world to see. Do you really believe your dad would want you to wipe him off the world entirely? I would love it if my dad's pic was there for the world to see, in one of his last happy moments.
Sheesh, really people, get over yourselves.
- Rowbear, Gawler SA
Sometimes, you just get what you deserve. Come home stumbling drunk, risk being publicly humiliated.
- Ron, Sacramento, CA USA
I'll drink to that.
- Fred, Birmingham, AL
Nothing upsets people more than the public revelation of their own bad behavior. Strangely though, it's never themselves they're upset with.
- Jeff, Boston, USA
AT least he had the sense to call a taxi...
- Mark, Los Angeles, CA
I'll think twice about going out in my pajamas to get the paper on the driveway.
- Ken, chino, USA
Wow, Australians need to learn the concept of "privacy". If you're outdoors, in the full view of the public there is no such thing as privacy. Any person could have seen that man and posted his picture on the internet.
The complainants seem to think that companies should be differentiated from the actions of lone individuals - that makes no sense.
- Cesar Chavez, Los Angeles, CA
Hey, he was viewable from( and party ON) public space, therefore he has no right to protest. Bill needs to suck it up and understand that "some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you". Stop being a whining ninny, and maybe not drink as much next time.
- Scurvy Rider, austin, tx
