Quick update via Aaron Goldman:

Nigel Morris of Isobar relayed this quote from a conversation he had with Google's country manager in Belgium: "All agencies are [the] middleman and we want to destroy you."
Tom Pick | Homepage | 10.01.08 - 1:34 pm | #

Great post Tom!

Not sure if you saw it but I came across this NY Times article that adds fuel to the fire.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/1...r=1& oref=slogin
Elge Premeau | Homepage | 10.01.08 - 3:57 pm | #

Thanks for the NYT link Elge. Perhaps THAT will get the attention of someone at Google.
Tom Pick | Homepage | 10.01.08 - 7:07 pm | #

Hey Tom,

Just wanted to point out that privacy is not a new issue. In Canada, Google has promised to comply with privacy laws to ensure that Street View images of individuals are blurred. It is illegal to post pictures of people without their permission.

I thought that was also the case in the US. Interesting that Canada is more protective of individual rights...

~Graham
Graham Strong | Homepage | 10.02.08 - 9:19 am | #

Interesting point, Graham. In the U.S., in most cases, anything viewable from "public space" (e.g. any non-private road) is fair game. I think most of us are comfortable with that, but Google has been accused of taking pictures from private vantage points, which is a whole `nother matter.
Tom Pick | Homepage | 10.02.08 - 2:05 pm | #

That was on info laden post Tom, and yes I definitely agree with Don, Google is one devious elephant walking thru your garden. You never see the elephant. You just see your garden trampled to death and wonder what the heck happened.

Thanks for the link BTW!

Chris lang
Chris Lang | Homepage | 10.04.08 - 9:06 pm | #

Chris:

You're welcome for the link. Thanks for keeping a close eye on the elephant.
Tom Pick | Homepage | 10.04.08 - 9:16 pm | #