Check out Street View - a service that offers 360-degree views of the biggest cities, allowing people to take virtual tours from their computers or mobile phones.

In March 2009 Google launched its controversial Street View service in the UK to frenzied protest by those regarding it as an infringement of privacy and a guide for burglars...

   360-degree views

We’ve all heard of it, used it and probably couldn’t live without it. Google provides internet search, web-based e-mail, online mapping, tools for business, social networking, and video sharing services, and now it has launched Street View.

        A snap in the right direction

This service offers 360-degree views of the biggest cities, allowing people to take virtual tours from their computers or mobile phones. You may have seen Google's black Opel cars touring the country taking snaps of street as they go. Google's systems then piece together the images to build a complete picture of the street that can be viewed from their website. The servers also pixelate out any identifiable faces and vehicle registrations.

Good fun or far from good?

So what do we all make of this? A bit of fun? A useful tool? Or is it a blatant infringement of people’s privacy? Do you want to wake up one morning, peer bleary eyed out of your bedroom window only to discover one of Googles infamous camera cars taking photos of your street to plaster across the internet where they can be accessed by anyone anywhere in the world? Then again, have you had a browse and been delighted to discover your street in all its glory providing a link for you to send to family and friends who may not be able to visit your new abode but who can now view your street from wherever they are!

The UK’s leading privacy protection campaign group, Privacy International, lodged a formal complaint with the Information Commissioners Office. In a 2,500 response the ICO ruled that Street View is not a threat to personal privacy. It also dismissed Privacy International's argument that Street View should seek people's consent. "If consent were required by the law, then the producers of, say, Match of the Day, would have to gain the consent of all people attending televised football matches who might be caught on camera," it commented.

The ICO stressed it would keep the issue under review and address any issues raised by individuals who feel that Google has not removed problematic images. It added: "In our opinion, there is no clear evidence that the community find Street View particularly harmful or insidious." So what do you think?

Let us know your thoughts and share your comments below...