A man from a small town in Argentina has just won a landmark lawsuit against Google. That case followed a 2017 incident in which the company’s Street View camera caught him in the buff on his own private garden. The case, which initially faced dismissal, has highlighted issues of privacy and dignity, leading to a significant ruling in favor of the man.
In 2017, the gentleman was snapped strolling about his yard nude. The collision became famous after someone uploaded the picture to Google Street View. It depicted his naked body, as well as where he lived — his house number and street name. In an effort to protect his dignity, the man filed a lawsuit last year, seeking justice for what he described as a blatant violation of his privacy.
The man’s case was rejected in the lower court. By making him a criminal by ruling that he was “walking around in inappropriate conditions in the garden of his home.” This ruling indicated that his actions were a direct factor in the invasion of privacy and created the negative outcome. The longtime resident of Housing Court figured he would challenge the ruling. He claimed that to be photographed while in such a state was an intrusion into his private life without cause.
On closer inspection of the appeal, this new bench of judges decided that the man’s dignity had, after all, been violated. Plus, they initially insisted that the photo was not shot in a public location. Rather, it was filmed behind his “castle” home, protected by a fence higher than typical. The court stated,
“This involves an image of a person that was not captured in a public space but within the confines of their home, behind a fence taller than the average-sized person. The invasion of privacy… is blatant.”
Finally, the court ordered the man to be compensated with around $12,500 Argentine pesos for the infringement caused. This ruling did more than vindicate the man, it established an important precedent for digital privacy rights.
“No one wants to appear exposed to the world as the day they were born,” reinforcing the notion that the image violated basic human dignity.
Yet, the moment Latin Times and then CTV News picked up the story, it went extremely viral. This sparked intense conversations about the privacy concerns related to technology.
The story quickly went viral following reports from outlets such as Latin Times and CTV News, sparking discussions about privacy issues associated with technology.
