Google Street View Maps...Big Brother?

Today I had the opportunity to play around with the Street View map option on Google's map search engine.

I heard about the innovation earlier this week and was not sure if it was truly as cool as it seemed.

When you first select Street View map, a map of the United States is displayed. The cities where Street View is available are San Francisco Ca, Las Vegas NV, Denver Co, Miami Fl, and New York, NY.

You can drag a little orange person shaped icon over the street you want to view or simply click on the blue outlined street, and voila! You're on the side walk.

You can watch, people walk down the street, cars go by, and zoom into the front windows of homes on tree lined residential neighborhoods.

What About Our Privacy?

Now as cool as all this may seem; there are some privacy issues that have arisen.

No sooner than the new maps became available, there were snapshots being posted all over the web including, people picking their nose, police working a fatal accident, and a person urinating in a public place.

Most say this new technology makes them feel uneasy. Google defends it's self by stating that the events you can catch on a Google Street View map are "no different than what you would see in a normal day", and it has tools that will allow them to remove uneasy or disturbing images from is site quickly.

Places that are to remain anonymous like shelters for battered women and children, and drug rehab centers have been removed.

With privacy laws a hot topic and a matter of security, it will be interesting to see how long Street View will last.

Can This Tool Be Used To Fight Terror/ Crime?

Since this new mapping system is now available, I'm sure it will morph into ways for people to either commit more crime, or make money. But will it prevent crime or give criminals more ideas?

How long has technology like this been available and who had it before it was dumped in Google's lap? I always have my conspiracy theories, but how does being able to look at a street with out physically being there benefit anyone/thing?

I suppose you can now follow Mrs. Garrett as she walks her yorkie, or see the local ice cream man pass out free cones to Johnny and Meg.

Let's really look at the negative and positive results of Street View. I'm not sure the maps have recording devices, but the maps could potentially decrease crime. If criminals knew that police could rewind to the exact date, scene and time of the crime to catch the crook, maybe they would not snatch a purse, or kidnap a child.

On the reverse, the maps can help criminals survey their victims like prey, and strike at our most vulnerable times. Now the local crack head can sneak a peek from home as he watches you carry your brand new big screen TV into your home, then watch as you leave to pick the kids from soccer practice and you return home wondering, how did they know?

What's Next?

My last question is if the public now can use Street View, what technology is our government working with now?

What new gadget do they have that will invade and control us next?

Like Moulder and Scully let's not be so ready to jump on the band wagon with this one. We may be giving up one of the only rights we have left, and opening the gates to flood out any liberties we still hold.