Google's StreetView map fails to keep privacy pledge

Internet search engine, Google, has upset South Wales motorists by showing the locations of vehicle licence plates on its new StreetView mapping service..

Swansea was one of 26 cities chosen to pioneer the amazing technology which displays 3D street level maps composed from actual photographs.

It was understood that sensitive images such as vehicle registrations would be disguised by blurring the images accordingly. Unfortunately this policy does not appear to have been enforced.

Many motorists have recognised their number plates and are furious about the sinister implications that might arise from being recorded at any particular location. Chris Holley, the leader of Swansea Council, is seeking get the mapping service removed or at least revised.

Google say that people are free to "report a concern" but only through an online form. Critics say that this immediately allows email addresses collected to be linked to actual geographic locations, again compromising an individual's privacy.

Clever as the online map is, the data captured is, necessarily, historic and evidence captured can not be accurately dated. However, many predict that is only a matter of time before the technology is able to realise the Orwellian prediction of mass monitoring via live, moving images.

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