Want Off Street View? Google Wants Your ID and a Sworn Statement: "

EFF privacy advocate and unhappy Street View model Kevin Bankston made good on his vow to try out Google's take-down policy after THREAT LEVEL found a picture of his unwitting mug stalking the sidewalks near EFF's offices. What he learned: Google is happy to remove you from Street View ... provided you give them a wealth of additional information, including a photo of your driver's license.

Here's Google's requirements, as sent to Bankston:

To request removal of your image from Street View, you must demonstrate that you are the person shown in the panorama you would like removed. We will not take action if you are reporting on behalf of someone else (such as a friend, relative or stranger), except that you may report on behalf of your minor child. To show that you are the person in the image you would like removed, you must provide us with the information specified below. To expedite our ability to process your request, please use the following format on your verification form:

' 1. Provide your legal name.

' 2. Provide your e-mail address.

' 3. Provide the street view address of the Street View image you would like removed.

' 4. Include the sworn statement: 'I declare, under penalty of
perjury, that the information in this notification is accurate.'

' 5. Attach a clear, readable copy of a valid photo ID (e.g. driver's license, national ID card, etc). If you are requesting removal of an image of a location, attach a copy of a document demonstrating your association with that location ( e.g. business card or letterhead).

' 6. Please e-mail your completed verification form, along with the necessary attachment, to maps-legal@google.com within 5 days. If you are unable to upload a copy of your photo ID electronically in an e-mail, you may also fax us a copy of your form and photo ID to (650) 887-0389.

We will temporarily remove the Street View image pending receipt of your ID verification. If we have not received a copy of your photo ID within 5 days, then we will restore the panorama back to Street View. Please note that we will investigate your complaint and take action as needed. We will not contact you unless we need more information to review your request. If you see that the panorama was not removed from Street View, it is likely that it did not meet our conditions for permanent removal.

Regards,

The Google Team

'Apparently, you have to jump through more hoops than a trained seal,' write Bankston. 'Perhaps they'd also like my mother's maiden name? Birth certificate? Urine sample?'

He continues:

Of course, if the choice is giving Google a copy of my driver's license or leaving the picture up, I'll take the latter, regardless of how unflattering it may be. It's worth noting that there's no apparent policy limiting Google's use of the information I'm being asked to provide to them.

(Read Original Article - Via Threat Level.)