Google sneaks up without warning
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There was nothing wrong with people in Sa-iab in Phrae's Song district - those opposing the Kaeng Suea Ten Dam - knowing nothing about Google's Street View mapping project. But it was wrong for them to surround the Street View car and demand that the driv
The citizens later apologised to Google and the driver for the misunderstanding. They suspected the vehicle had come to survey the area for the dam. But they were then criticised for not knowing about Street View and making the country seem backward. The critics should put themselves in the citizens’ shoes before judging them. If one day our livelihood, natural resources and ecosystem were destroyed to make way for a dam that might not achieve its aim of preventing flooding, how would we respond?
In areas where there are conflicts, Google should inform residents of its intentions in advance to avoid such incidents of misunderstanding and mistrust.
Sutipunt Bongsununt
Kanchanaburi
