Greece , Japan, Germany, Swizerland ban Google’s Street View

The Swiss joined a growing chorus of nations by demanding that Google Inc. stop its “street view” service in Switzerland.

Google has been taking photographs in Switzerland and started offering the service a week ago, according to news reports. Though it used software to blur out faces and license plates, some could still be distinguished, and the Swiss government has asked Google to stop the street view feature.

Greece, Japan and Germany have all made similar protests recently because of concerns about privacy.

Google uses a vehicle with multiple cameras above its roof to take the photos while driving. Pictures have captured people in embarrassing moments or have even revealed the inside of homes — this was the sticking point for the Japanese government, which insisted Google retake the pictures from a lower height so as not to peek over fences and walls.

Comments: Does anyone like Google's Street View? As a real estate professional, I find this feature to be very useful. However, I agree with the complaints that captured pictures sometimes reveal too much information. Privacy laws have to be observed as well.