Google’s high-tech mapping technology can transport users around the globe.
But if you want to see the moon, you have to click on the Bronx.
A trip down Bruckner Blvd. using the company’s street view feature reveals that Google’s face recognition technology blurred out the behind of a man on a ladder, making it look as if the worker is mooning the car-mounted camera.
It’s unclear whether the man actually dropped trow as he saw the Google car coming or if the company fuzzed out his fanny just to be safe.
“It shows we have a sense of humor here in the South Bronx,” said Joseph Diaz, the general manager of the Bruckner Bar and Grill, which can be seen clearly behind the man’s distorted derriere. “They were probably the welcoming committee.”
In the 2011 image, three other men accompany the worker, watching the camera-strapped car make its way down Bruckner Blvd. below the on-ramp to the Third Ave. bridge.
In its privacy policy, Google says it uses “cutting-edge face and licence plate blurring technology” on its images.
The borough that gave rise to the Bronx Cheer also gave the bird to the Goog.
The search engine giant failed to block out one of the other workers flipping the finger with both fists raised in the air as the the Google-mobile turned and ventured east on Bruckner Blvd.
The company’s 15-lens cameras atop the Street View cars have captured plenty of bizarre roadside behavior since they were introduced in 2007.
The roving cameras have caught dogs peeing and people picking their noses while driving and even pretending to have sex.
The sometimes controversial images have caused critics to question the legality of the practice.
“Street View contains imagery from public roads that is no different from what you might see driving or walking down the street,” the company contends on its website.
Google representatives did not return requests for comment about the Bronx images.
The bar manager said he wasn’t concerned about customers being turned off by the odd images, should they Google the restaurant.
“It’s actually really funny,” Diaz said. “Our clientele will get a kick out of it.”
