Google’s Big Blunder: Captured Naked Policeman’s Photo, Court Slaps Hefty Fine

Buenos Aires (The Uttam Hindu): In Argentina, Google has had to pay a heavy price for taking a nude picture of a police officer with its Street View car and publishing it online. A high court has ordered Google to pay damages to the officer, calling it a "clear and serious" violation of privacy. Due to Google's negligence in this case, the police officer not only had to face embarrassment, but he also became a laughing stock among his colleagues and neighbors.

The matter came to light when a police officer was naked in the courtyard of his house and a Google Street View car took his picture. Surprisingly, not only his entire body, but also his home address and street name were clearly visible in this picture, which Google put on its website.

Following the incident, the victim police officer filed a case against Google in 2019 alleging violation of his privacy and outrage of dignity. Initially, a local court dismissed the case, saying that the officer was "in an indecent position" outside his house. Google also argued in its defence that the wall of the house was not high enough.

But, in July 2025, a higher court overturned the lower court's decision. The high court clarified in its judgment that the photograph was taken not from a public place but inside the officer's house, behind a 6.5-foot high wall. Calling it a serious violation of privacy, the court remarked, "No person wants to be seen naked in front of the world."

Citing Google's own policies, the court said that the company has technology and policy to automatically blur faces and vehicle number plates to keep people's identity secret. But in this case, the person's entire nude body was clearly shown, which proved to be a serious lapse on Google's part.

Following the verdict, the court ordered Google to take responsibility for the serious error, immediately remove the photo and pay around Rs 10.8 lakh ($12,500) as compensation to the victim police officer.