The controversy continues over Google’s Street Maps.

 

Canada’s Privacy Commissioner thinks the Google cam is a little too much over the top.  In other words, it’s too precise.

 

What’s the center of the controversy?

Innocent bystanders.  (Okay, some of them are not so innocent. They are being seen online in places they don’t want their wives, ministers, neighbors, or accountants to know about).

 

That’s understandable. 

 

I was attending a tremendous internet seminar last week in Vegas and I had to sign a waiver about being photographed the minute I hit the door

 

And no, I wasn’t excited about being on their new videos.  But I figured it was one of the prices I had to pay to be able to participate.

 

Here’s my point.

 

London is already one of the most photographed cities in the world.  I guess the Canadian Privacy Commissioner knows all about that. 

 

I certainly found out while on vacation there three years ago.  There were a lot of cameras.  In fact, I honestly believe one was panning us as we walked down a sidewalk in Windsor (near the castle). 

 

A little creepy?

 

You bet.

 

However- Google’s new tool is a present from heaven as far as many real estate investors are concerned.

 

We can see properties and  whole neighborhoods on our computers

 

We don’t have to go out in our cars and drive through areas any more until we’re good and ready.  We’re saving a ton on gas and we’re getting the vital info we need instantly.

 

Can the Canadians stop Google?

 

I don’t think so.  Google Street Maps is already too widely popular.  The Google genie is out of the bottle. 

 

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