Mapping vs. privacy

hyachts

I recognize that the mapping functions are only enabled if a number of conditions are met regarding the public availability of photos, and I understand that's because SmugMug is meeting the terms of the Google API. That being said, is there any way I can avoid having my pictures searched on SmugMug without, for example, having to remove all captions and keywords? I keep getting hits from people (almost always in foreign countries) using search strings that I can only imagine they are using for stock photo type purposes. It's annoying (and creepy) enough to have people looking at my pictures because they want to see a picture of "beach mom", but to think that my wife and son might end up on a webpage or ad somewhere really aggravates me. I have only enabled the public access that I have in order to allow mapping. I don't want to watermark (that might keep them from using the photo, but I don't really want them finding it in the first place).

So, again, is there any way to hide or obscure the information SmugMug uses to search and still be able to have mapping? My understanding of the Google Maps API terms is that the pages/photos/whatever can't be restricted from public viewing, but I take that to mean they can't be password protected or otherwise actively restricted, not that they have to be searchable. This is borne out by the fact that you don't have to have "hello world" on to allow mapping - so clearly Google doesn't require that they are able to index the information...

Anyways, any info would be great. I don't want to have to turn mapping off.

BTW, to save everyone the time, I am not interested in lectures about how the only way to really protect my photos is to password protect, etc. I know all that. I just want to make it a bit harder for people who don't know me to find my photos based on generic search terms.

Andy

Hm. I need to check, but how about Hello World (on the gallery) set to "no"? That might do it.

hyachts

Andy wrote:

Hm. I need to check, but how about Hello World (on the gallery) set to "no"? That might do it.

I have "Hello World" set to no everywhere - site and gallery level. That keeps me off Google, but not off SmugSearch. I'm seeing hits from SmugSearch for things like "beach mom" and "diapers". Got to be somebody looking for stock stuff... As expected if I turn off "Hello Smuggers" it gets me off the search, but also disables mapping.

Andy

hyachts wrote:

I have "Hello World" set to no everywhere - site and gallery level. That keeps me off Google, but not off SmugSearch. I'm seeing hits from SmugSearch for things like "beach mom" and "diapers". Got to be somebody looking for stock stuff... As expected if I turn off "Hello Smuggers" it gets me off the search, but also disables mapping.

Yeah okay - there's no way around that, I'm so sorry - it's a google Api thing. I wish I had a better answer for you

hyachts

Andy wrote:

Yeah okay - there's no way around that, I'm so sorry - it's a google Api thing. I wish I had a better answer for you

I'm sure it's just a question of understanding the site architecture, but why would blocking SmugMug's search be a violation when blocking Google themselves isn't? Is it just that SmugSearch is bundled with some other aspect of the "Hello Smuggers" setting that would violate the terms?

hyachts

hyachts wrote:

I'm sure it's just a question of understanding the site architecture, but why would blocking SmugMug's search be a violation when blocking Google themselves isn't? Is it just that SmugSearch is bundled with some other aspect of the "Hello Smuggers" setting that would violate the terms?

I just read over the ToS again, and the only really pertinent thing I can find is this:

The API may be used only for services that are generally accessible to consumers without charge. Accordingly, You may not use the API for any service that requires a subscription or other restricted access, or for which a fee is charged.

I can't really think of an interpretation of this that bears out the way SmugMug has it set up. What am I missing?

hyachts

Andy wrote:

I wish I had a better answer for you

Bump. So does anyone have a better answer for me? Either someone with ideas on how to hide from SmugSearch, or somebody who can explain why it has to be this way to satisfy the Google Maps API ToS?

hyachts

Bump. Anyone? Bueller? Beuller?

Andy

hyachts wrote:

Bump. Anyone? Bueller? Beuller?

I don't really have any more to say on this, I'm really, really sorry

I wish I had a better answer for you, I really do

hyachts

Andy wrote:

I don't really have any more to say on this, I'm really, really sorry

I wish I had a better answer for you, I really do

I know what your answer is Andy - which is why I asked if anyone had a better answer. You and I are not lawyers (or are you? ), so I wouldn't expect you to be able to explain to me why exactly it has to be this way to satisfy the Google ToS, if in fact it does. Someone at SmugMug must have made this decision based on some specific reason(s) - if it was you I have to say I'm disappointed with the depth of your explanation . I know I'm not the only person that doesn't get why it has to be set up this way to satisfy Google. This question has come up before.

My question is two-fold: what were those reasons (I can't even begin to imagine that there's some trade secret involved here that would make them something you couldn't divulge) and what, if anything, can be done to fix my predicament? I guess my second question might be better for the customization forum but I really strongly believe that the first question bears some consideration - or at least a "It's because of XXX, dummy", which would be satisfactory (XXX being something more specific than what we've already covered).

BTW - I realize I'm not entitled to a response here, but I do think it's a valid question that deserves a response on its own merits.

Andy

hyachts wrote:

I know what your answer is Andy - which is why I asked if anyone had a better answer. You and I are not lawyers (or are you? ), so I wouldn't expect you to be able to explain to me why exactly it has to be this way to satisfy the Google ToS, if in fact it does. Someone at SmugMug must have made this decision based on some specific reason(s) - if it was you I have to say I'm disappointed with the depth of your explanation . I know I'm not the only person that doesn't get why it has to be set up this way to satisfy Google. This question has come up before.

My question is two-fold: what were those reasons (I can't even begin to imagine that there's some trade secret involved here that would make them something you couldn't divulge) and what, if anything, can be done to fix my predicament? I guess my second question might be better for the customization forum but I really strongly believe that the first question bears some consideration - or at least a "It's because of XXX, dummy", which would be satisfactory (XXX being something more specific than what we've already covered).

BTW - I realize I'm not entitled to a response here, but I do think it's a valid question that deserves a response on its own merits.

I'm the guy, and I wish I had more time to go into things like this, I really do

Maybe one day soon I can dive into the Google terms. But I do have a ton more other things that are higher on the list, I'm really, really sorry about that

hyachts

See!? So you DID have a better answer. It's only a tiny smidge better, but at least I now know where the buck stops and why. I'll dial my bumping back to maybe once a month... just to keep it on your radar

Thanks

hyachts

Okay, so it didn't wait a month, but for some reason my site is now getting tons of hits from people through SmugSearch or (and I don't understand this at all) through the www.smugmug.com version of my page. It's really aggravating and I guess I'll jut have to do away with mapping for now but it would be just great if you could cram some time into your busy schedule to consider what I and others have asked about.

FWIW - it took me about three minutes to read the terms and conclude that the SM limitations go beyond what is required...

So... to kill "Hello Smuggers" for my site (and close this door) is it enough to do it at the site level or do I have to go through each gallery and change it too?

Andy

hyachts wrote:

Okay, so it didn't wait a month, but for some reason my site is now getting tons of hits from people through SmugSearch or (and I don't understand this at all) through the www.smugmug.com version of my page. It's really aggravating and I guess I'll jut have to do away with mapping for now but it would be just great if you could cram some time into your busy schedule to consider what I and others have asked about.

FWIW - it took me about three minutes to read the terms and conclude that the SM limitations go beyond what is required...

So... to kill "Hello Smuggers" for my site (and close this door) is it enough to do it at the site level or do I have to go through each gallery and change it too?

I'm sorry, can you please explain more what you are trying to accomplish, I'm not understanding

hyachts

Andy wrote:

I'm sorry, can you please explain more what you are trying to accomplish, I'm not understanding

I want to have mapping enabled without having my site searchable on Smugmug. But since you've made it clear that that's not likely to happen anytime soon, now I just want to know if setting "Hello Smuggers" to "No - make me an island" at the site level will override the gallery settings or if I have to go through each of my galleries and turn that off, too.

hyachts

Bump.

Has this situation changed and/or been looked at at all?

Andy

hyachts wrote:

Bump.

Has this situation changed and/or been looked at at all?

It has not changed yet. Yes, it's being looked at.

hyachts

Andy wrote:

It has not changed yet. Yes, it's being looked at.

Thanks Andy - glad it's still on the radar at least.

darryl

A few weeks back I mailed Google Maps about whether mapping for unpublished galleries is a violation of their free API TOS. Never got a reply back. I take that to mean they don't care, so SmugMug should clearly just make mapping available for unpublished albums as well as those that are not visible to SmugSearch. (Which is just plain weird, because the latter is hardly the same as unpublished.) ;-}