Hi all,

I am aware that Google doesn’t offer up-to-date Street View in Germany, and that the reason is privacy protection laws.

I am then surprised to see that Apple has a pretty good coverage, of at least Berlin, [with its Look Around feature](https://i.imgur.com/KELGpDs.jpg). Also with no blurry buildings.

I always thought this wasn’t possible due to legal reasons but clearly I am missing something.

Does anyone know why Apple can do it but Google can’t (or won’t)?

5 comments

  1. In Berlin, google also has a very good coverage (even though mostly relatively old, from 2008).

    It’s google’s deliberate decision not to expand what they publish, there is no law against it.

  2. The reason streetview doesn’t exist isn’t privacy laws but a huge public outcry when Google introduced it. Nowadays nobody cares so apple just did it I assume.

  3. I guess it’s acceptance with new tech?

    Street View has actual and legitimate use-cases and people now expect their tech to work.

    Google probably keeps the houses blurred because they’ve done so for years. Wouldn’t be really surprised if they tried again to keep up with Apple.

  4. Google Street View not being a thing isn’t because of legal reasons. It’s because back when Google first came around with their cars so many people made requests to have their houses blurred that they basically said fuck that and just never did more than the first few cities they did.

  5. Google has absolutely up to date streetview material of Germany, we just can’t access it. They use it for all kinds of things (making their maps more relevant, mostly).

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