Google has officially agreed to remove from its Maps service a satellite image that shows a dead teenager's body. Kevin Barrera was shot to death in 2009 and his body was discovered near a railway line somewhere in Richmond Calif.
Kevin's father Jose Barrera told KTVU-TV that he had spoken with Google about removing the image, which shows a police car responding to the report of the body's discovery. Jose Barrera asked Google if it would remove the image out of respect for his son.
"When I see this image, that's still like that happened yesterday. And that brings me back to a lot of memories." Mr. Barrera said.
Google has agreed to remove the image but, since it has never accelerated the updates to its satellite images in the past, says that it will need about eight days before they can make an exception out of respect for the Barrera family.
"Our hearts go out to the family of this young boy. Since the media first contacted us about the image, we've been looking at different technical solutions," said Brian McClendon, the vice president of Google Maps, in a letter to KTVU. "Google has never accelerated the replacement of updated satellite imagery from our maps before, but given the circumstances we wanted to make an exception in this case."
McClendon also made sure to inform the public that the company has had personal conversations with the family and has told Mr. Barrera that it is working to remove the image.
The image in question can be found HERE via Google Maps but be warned that it contains an aerial image of Kevin Barrera's body and may be a disturbing image to some.
Google's Maps service selects images and collects satellite and street-level camera data. The company goes out of its way to protect people's privacy by blurring license plates and faces. However, unlike the Street View, there is no formal way for people to report satellite images, which tend to be between one and three years old according to the BBC.
