Google Street View in Vancouver

Google Street View launched in Vancouver today, and in other major cities across Canada, and an official release is expected later this morning in regards to the Vancouver launch. Check it out: http://maps.google.ca/help/maps/streetview/

Buzz Bishop broke the story on cyberbuzz this morning. Side note, you know that you are old skool internet cool when you can still pull off a web site with the word “cyber” in it.

As soon as I read this I started ego-surfing and searching out the places I frequent and yikes… live. Check out the street view of our office. You can just make out the 6S logo in the window on the top floor of our building. I am glad that we are on the 4th floor as you could probably see me at my desk if the angle was right. A couple of 6S employees were photographed in front of the office building having a chat before they were going to a client meeting.

Hopefully the street in front of your business was not under construction when the Google cameras went by, or your street may not have been mapped. This was the case for the Opus Hotel in Vancouver when Davie and Pacific was closed for the new Yaletown Canada Line Station. You can view the construction and people in hard hats, but there is no clear view of the hotel entrance.

Are there privacy concerns? You bet. Visit out this article from the National Post earlier this week. “Google Canada Promises Street View Won’t Invade Privacy“. Also visit this article by Gillian Shaw in the Vancouver Sun: “Google Street View launches in Canada”

However, if you do find an image that you are uncomfortable about, then you can request to have it removed. The Canadian Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, is expected to issue a public advisory advising people “Not to expose themselves the Google camera vehicles, as the images may appear on the Internet.”

Do not flash the Google Cameras