Google Tricycle Spy-Cycle Probes More Deeply

Just when we thought Google couldn't be any nosier, along comes the "spy cycle".

The Google Tricycle has debuted in Europe, with the ability to go off-road. The search giant has hired two cyclists to pedal through Paris gardens and other pedestrian zones on the cycles in order to take thousands upon thousands of pictures.

"I rode two hours this morning," said Gregory Landais, who was resting after cycling through La Defense, France's touch of Manhattan. "For a site like this, it can take up to five hours."

Don't worry, though, your privacy is safe, according to Google.

To respect people’s privacy, Google has installed software that recognizes license plates and people’s faces and automatically blurs them, Dauba-Pantanacce said. Google will then choose the best photos among the thousands taken. The blurring comes to meet privacy concerns.

Next up, the Google fly will take pictures of the inside of your house.

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• Google to Reshoot Japan Street View Imagery After Privacy Complaints (blogoscoped.com)
• Greece Tells Google Street View to Park It Elsewhere (mashable.com)
• Google agrees to delete unblurred German Street View data (macworld.com)
• Google agrees to delete unblurred German Street View data (computerworld.com)

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Technorati Tags: Google, Google Street View, Google Tricycle, Privacy

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