Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/07/24/street_view_trike/

Street View snooptrike stalks Siena

Google's pedal-powered privacy-buster caught on camera

By Lester Haines

Posted in Bootnotes, 24th July 2009 10:20 GMT

A couple of months back, the Vulture Central Street View Monitoring Bureau got word that the Great Satan of Mountain View had neatly circumvented the problem of capturing pedestrianised urban areas with its all-seeing eye by deploying a fleet of sinister snooptrikes.

We're obliged then to reader Andrew Porrer, who was able to provide photographic evidence that Google had indeed unleashed a pedal-powered fleet to go where Orwellian black Opels fear to tread.

Here's the vehicle in question, caught on the streets of Siena:

And here's another fetching pic, with Google's operative showing how it's done. For privacy reasons, we have blurred certain parts of this image:

Street View operative demonstrating his snooptrike technique

In Greece, meanwhile, it's evident that Google has settled its differences with the powers that be, and is back happily snapping. Thanks to Jamie Kitson for providing the evidence, close to the Acropolis in Athens:

Street View spycar spotted in Athens

Naturally, we've added both of these sightings plus a few new spots (including Dublin) to our internationally-acclaimed spymobile map. Enjoy:

View the Map (opens in a new window)

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