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Police in Japan pull over Google Street View car

14 Comments
By Philip Kendall

The Google Street View car, once something that people would have simply watched roll by while scratching their heads in confusion, has become so ingrained in popular culture that should we ever spot it trundling down our own street, many of us would immediately bound in its direction like excited golden retriever in an attempt to get our ugly mugs plastered on the internet for all eternity.

It’s rare, though, to see the the famous car running into trouble with the law.

Spotted by Twitter user @Nagi_224 at an undisclosed location in Japan, it seems that police wanted to have a word with the driver of the Google car. After all, what could possibly be weird about a dude cruising through town taking photos of everyone and everything around him?

Quite what the issue was remains unclear, but a number of theories have already sprung up online, including one that — although a little farfetched — suggested that, in a country where customised cars are quite common, it wouldn’t be hard for someone with a little time and spare cash to kit their car out to look like the real Street View machine and take snaps for (gasp) nefarious purposes.

Others suggested that perhaps the police were more interested in checking that the camera equipment was safely attached.

Source: Byokan Sunday

Read more stories from RocketNews24 -- Google Maps Shows Its Respect For Colonel Sanders’ Privacy -- Toyota to Unveil Driverless Car -- Hiroshima University Students Invent Ultra-Soft Car

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14 Comments
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Police " nice camera is it a Nikon?" Driver "no it is a Cannon, do you want to be on streetview?"

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Puts a whole different slant on the term "Search Google" doesnt it?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

No big deal, they are just taking pictures for the NSA, please smile at the hidden camera,

5 ( +5 / -0 )

They have to do it every year to keep the maps up to date.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

" They have to do it every year to keep the maps up to date."

That's a joke, right?

Smile! You're on Not-So-Candid Camera. Say cheese for Big Brother!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

These pictures are of a public place. They are being done in the open, have enjoyed seeing pictures of places I once lived. The NSA is listening to our phone calls and reading our email. God only knows what they are doing with that information.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

These cops need to be out catching real criminals and not harassing Google Street View cars. Get to work cops!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Google admitted last year that not only was their cars taking pictures of the street, but it was also logging where there were unsecured wireless routers. I wonder what THAT had to do with Street View®?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Now we know why no one was in the Koran when those teens put the bag of exploding dog poo in there. The the po-po where busy doing a Google search when they should have been on the job.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Fadamor the cars are moving just how much information can you get in that short period of time?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The cameras yes and they are doing it in public. If you want privacy get a room! If not inside do it away from a public road.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I've traveled all over Japan with streetview. I hope they add sound. Matter of fact, I've seen the world. Love Google street view.Of course, Japan is my spot.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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