[RestlessMind]

> how is that different than ...

In one case, you are doing it and society is fine with that because a human being has inherent limitations. In other case, a machine is doing it which has different sets of limitations, which gives it vastly different abilities. That is the fundamental difference.

This also played out in the streetview debate - someone standing in public areas taking pictures of surroundings? No problem! An automated machine being driven around by a megacorp on every single street? Big problem.