Street View to stay in UK, says Google

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Street View is here to stay, according to the head of Google Maps.

In an interview with the Times, John Hanke dismissed many of the concerns raised since its release in March, saying that the company plans on extending its coverage to most of the country by the end of 2010.

Hanke told The Times: "As a company we may not make 100 per cent of everybody happy in all situations but I don't think you can live your life as an individual or as a company not wanting to step on anybody's toes. We have to chart a course between the benefit that can come from something and adhering to social mores and the law."

Street View allows a person to jump into one of Google’s maps and have a 360-degree photographic view of the area from their computer or mobile phone. Google promotes Street View as a useful tool for househunting, planning holidays or working out where to meet friends, however not everyone appreciates the technology.

Privacy groups have publicly criticised it, protests have been made about the camera cars visiting villages and members of the publichave requested photos to be taken down.

When asked about villagers stopping a camera car taking photos of Broughton, Hanke said: "It is their community. People should work through what the real risk is. My request is that we not buy into some of the negative hype and really think about what Street View is and where it fits into society.”

He added: “Public debate is very healthy and that is a good thing. The reason we are doing it is because we think it has a lot of benefits.”

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