Google mapping city streets

ROBIN KUNISKI/FOR METRO CALGARY

Metro captured the Google Street View mapping car as it drove through Calgary neighbourhoods yesterday. The detailed, street-level imaging has some Calgarians worried about privacy and security.

Published: April 22, 2009 5:15 a.m.

Last modified: April 22, 2009 12:18 a.m.

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Is Google watching you? Chances are they probably already have a photo of your street.

Metro spotted the Google Street View car snapping 360-degree photos yesterday afternoon in the neighbourhood of University Heights, and residents weren’t very happy about it.

“I don’t like the idea of that one bit. I think they should just forget the whole thing and leave it alone,” 55-year-old area resident George Mathers said. “But they won’t.”

Mathers said he didn’t know Google was in his area until he saw the non-discript vehicle with a camera trolling along his street. Neighbour Sandra Smith said she is concerned about security.

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta told Metro they are working with Google to ensure privacy breaches aren’t committed.

“They said they will blur out things like licence plates and faces. People may not want to be seen in their yard, or coming out of a certain places,” spokesperson Wayne Wood said, adding Google has been in Calgary and Edmonton the past week.

But he admitted the true test will come when Google starts posting the images, which he expects will be near the end of June. “Once the images are up and we know what we are dealing with, we can take it from there. Right now, they are just collecting the images.”

A spokesperson for Google told Metro they abide by privacy regulations set out in a respective country.

“We take feedback from our users seriously and they can also report images if they have concerns” she said.

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