AN Argentine captured naked in his yard by a Google Street View camera has been awarded compensation by a court after his bare behind was splashed over the internet for all to see.
According to reports, the policeman had sought payment from the internet giant for harm to his dignity, arguing he was behind a two-meter (6.6-foot) wall when a Google camera captured him in the buff, from behind, in small-town Argentina in 2017.
The image went viral after appearing in a local television segment about unusual Street View images. The officer said he was humiliated by neighbors and eventually began leaving his house only to go to work.
His house number and street name were also laid bare, broadcast on Argentine TV covering the story, and shared widely on social media.
The man claimed the invasion exposed him to ridicule at work and among his neighbours.
A lower court initially dismissed his claim, ruling that he was responsible for "walking around in inappropriate conditions in the garden of his home," while Google argued that the wall was not high enough to ensure privacy, according to CBS News.
Earlier this month, an appellate court overturned that ruling.
Judges determined that Google had committed "a serious error" and violated the officer's dignity by publishing the image. The court ordered the U.S. tech giant to pay compensation and remove the photo from its Street View platform.
The court ordered Google Argentina and Google LLC to pay the officer 3 million Argentine pesos plus interest dating back to 27 Sept 2017 — bringing the total payout to 16 million pesos (around US$16,500). - July 28, 2025
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