Street View Absence In Belarus: Why The Omission?

Belarus is one of the few European countries that is not covered by Google Street View. This is due to a combination of factors, including the country's low tourism numbers, strict laws regarding photography, and national security concerns.

Google Street View was introduced in Europe in 2008, but Belarus was notably absent from the rollout. While there have been some limited additions of Street View in the historical center of Minsk in 2019, and museums in 2015, the country remains largely uncovered.

The lack of Street View in Belarus stands out, especially when compared to the extensive coverage in neighbouring countries like Russia and Ukraine. This has sparked discussions and speculation about the reasons behind the absence of this technology in Belarus. Some have suggested that it is due to the country's pro-Russia government, which may have prevented Google cars from roaming through cities while allowing a competing Russian service to operate. Others have pointed to the country's dictatorship and national security concerns as possible factors.

It is worth noting that Belarus is not the only country without Google Street View, and there are valid concerns about privacy and data protection that have led to legal issues and temporary bans in some places.

The Belarusian government's affiliation with Russia

Belarus and Russia have a long history of political and economic affiliation. Russia is Belarus's largest and most important economic and political partner, and both countries share a land border. Belarus is dependent on Russia for imports of raw materials and for its export market, and Russia accounts for 41% of Belarusian exports. Belarus has also served as a "middleman" for Russia, importing goods from the EU, rebranding them as "Belarusian", and re-exporting them to Russia.

Russia and Belarus have also formed a supranational Union State, which was established in a series of treaties from 1996-1999. The Union State aimed to create a USSR-like federation with a similar government, currency, flag, and army. The culmination of this process was the establishment of a Union State between the two countries in 1999.

In addition to the Union State, Belarus and Russia are both members of several international organizations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the United Nations.

However, the relationship between Belarus and Russia has not always been smooth, and there have been several disputes and conflicts between the two countries. For example, in the mid-2000s, Belarus violated a pipeline agreement with Russia, leading to increased gas prices and reduced flow. In response, Belarus increased transit fees and extracted gas destined for other countries. Russia and Belarus have also had disputes over border demarcation and energy trade.

Despite these tensions, the strategic value of Belarus for Russia has continued to rise due to international developments, including the United States' military activity in the post-Soviet space and the eastern European states' shift towards the West. As a result, military integration between the two states has continued, despite setbacks in political and economic integration.

Privacy concerns

In 2010, a British watchdog group accused Google of breaking the law by obtaining personal data from people, though the company was not fined. In 2011, Google was fined in Germany for illegally recording information from unsecured wireless networks.

Google has also implemented several measures to address privacy concerns in Street View. In 2008, they began testing face-blurring technology on photos of Manhattan's busy streets, and this technology has since been applied to all photos, lowering their resolution.

In addition to these technical measures, Google has also faced restrictions on capturing Street View images in certain countries. For example, the Czech Republic banned further capturing of Street View images in 2010, and while the ban was lifted in 2011, the cameras were lowered by 30 cm for privacy reasons.

These privacy concerns and legal issues have likely contributed to the delay in bringing Google Street View to Belarus, which only received partial coverage of Minsk's historical center in 2019.

National security

Dictatorship and Government Control:

The country's dictatorship and pro-Russia government may have played a role in restricting Google's access. The Belarusian government did not allow Google cars to roam through cities, while granting access to a competing Russian service. This could be due to political affiliations, with Yandex being affiliated with Russia and Google with the West.

Legality and Privacy Concerns:

Google Street View has faced legal and privacy issues in several countries. The service was controversial due to stricter laws in European countries regarding photography. Belarus, as a post-Soviet country, may have had similar concerns, especially with the sensitive nature of some government installations and locations.

Low Tourism and Lack of Demand:

With less than 150,000 tourist visitors per year, Belarus is not a highly touristic country. This lack of demand could have been a factor in Google's decision not to prioritize Street View coverage in the country.

Recent Introduction:

It is worth noting that as of July 25, 2023, Google Street View was introduced in Belarus, covering the historical center of Minsk. This recent development indicates that Google is now providing limited Street View access in the country, which may expand further in the future.

The country's low tourism numbers

Belarus is not a very touristic country, with less than 150,000 tourist visitors per year. Its capital, Minsk, has an interesting city centre with big parks, Stalinist architecture, the beautiful Svislach River, and a restored old town. However, the country's population boom has forced the construction of monotonous, modernistic tower blocks in the city's neighbourhoods.

The poverty of certain neighbourhoods in Minsk is physically expressed by the dead walls of tower blocks. The badly maintained grey walls give an unpleasant and almost anxious feeling. The public space around these walls is also poorly maintained. In contrast, the walls closer to the centre of Minsk are more aesthetically pleasing, probably due to an improved socio-economic situation. These walls are coloured in different styles, with some painted with colourful lines and others consisting of a single colour.

The dead walls in Praspiekt Niezalieznasci in Vostok, close to the new modern library of Minsk, have been refurbished in the form of a beautiful mosaic. Religious signs and communistic relics can be seen on the sidewalls. As a result, a depressive ending of the main street with grey dead walls is prevented, and the street ends in allure. The dead walls no longer negatively affect the neighbourhood but are instead part of a well-maintained public space.

The lack of demand for Google Street View in Belarus

Google Street View was first introduced in the United States in 2007 and has since expanded to cover millions of miles across 83 countries worldwide. However, there is a notable absence of Street View in Belarus, with only minimal coverage of the historical centre of Minsk added in 2019. This lack of coverage is due to a combination of factors, including low demand, privacy concerns, and political tensions.

Firstly, Belarus is not a popular tourist destination, receiving fewer than 150,000 visitors per year. This lack of tourism means that there is little demand for Street View in the country. Additionally, the country has undergone significant changes in the 20th century, including almost total destruction and rapid post-war expansion. As a result, many neighbourhoods in Minsk consist of monotonous, modernistic tower blocks, which may not be particularly appealing to virtual visitors.

Secondly, there are privacy concerns surrounding Street View, which have caused controversy and legal issues in several countries. Google has implemented face-blurring technology to address these concerns, but some countries remain hesitant to allow Street View due to stricter laws regarding photography. Belarus may fall into this category, especially considering the country's pro-Russia government.

Finally, political tensions between Belarus and the West may have played a role in the lack of Street View coverage. The Belarusian government has been accused of dictatorship and has favoured Russian-affiliated companies over Western ones. Yandex, a Russian-affiliated online mapping service, has been allowed to operate in Belarus, while Google has not. This suggests that political tensions may have contributed to the lack of demand for Google Street View in Belarus.

In conclusion, the lack of Google Street View in Belarus can be attributed to a combination of low demand due to low tourism, privacy concerns, and political tensions between Belarus and Western companies.

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