"Photographed Without Consent": Argentine Man Wins Lawsuit Against Google After Being Captured Naked at Home

Court: "Fence Higher Than Average Person Is Privacy Invasion"
Orders Payment of About $12,500 in Compensation

An Argentine man whose nudity was exposed through Google's real-world mapping service, Street View, is set to receive compensation of 17 million won. On July 24 (local time), AFP and other foreign media reported that the Argentine man filed a lawsuit after being photographed naked in the yard of his home by a camera mounted on a Google Street View vehicle in 2017. The incident was later reported by Argentine media, and the Street View footage quickly spread on social networking services (SNS).

An Argentine man who was exposed naked through Google's Street View service has been awarded 17 million won in damages. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Getty Images Yonhap News

The man claimed that he was behind a 2-meter-high wall and argued that Google had violated his personal dignity, demanding compensation. In response to his claim, Google argued that the wall was not high enough. In the first trial last year, the court dismissed the damages claim, stating, "He is responsible for walking around in an inappropriate state at home." However, the appellate court's judgment differed from the original ruling. The court ruled that Google had clearly infringed upon his personal dignity and ordered the company to pay about $12,500 (approximately 17 million won) in compensation. The appellate court's view was different from the lower court's.

Google had consistently argued that "the exterior wall was not high enough," but the appellate court stated, "Since the image was taken in a private residence, beyond a fence higher than the average person's height, and not in a public place, this is a clear invasion of privacy." "This case is an act that clearly infringed upon an individual's daily life," the court said. The court further explained, "Google intruded upon the plaintiff's home and damaged his dignity, and there is no legitimate reason to avoid responsibility. No one wants their nudity to be exposed to the entire world."

In particular, the appellate court noted that Google has operated a policy of blurring faces and vehicle license plates captured by Street View, stating, "This system shows that Google was aware of its responsibility to protect personal information and prevent harm." The court added, "In cases like this, where it is not the face but nudity that is exposed, the same preemptive measures must be taken."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.