Google Maps and Google Earth users can now benefit from Street View imagery covering the four major cities in Spain. Google has added Street view coverage for Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville just two weeks after a similar initiative with the six largest cities in France.Google Street View arrived in Europe to celebrate the 95th anniversary of Le Tour de France, allowing Google users to ride the 2008 Tour route and feel like part of the race from their very own living room.
Now, Google users can also tour Spanish landmarks like La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, or the newly constructed 4 Torres that rule Madrid's skyline.
Bigmouthmedia's intrepid reporters managed to get the first photos of the Street View spiders in Edinburgh in July, while many others spotted the cars equipped with 360-degree cameras and GPS receivers in various other locations in the UK.
The service has drawn criticism from many due to its potential to breach privacy and data protection laws. However, the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK privacy watchdog, gave the all-clear to Google after examining its innovative technology to blur faces and registration plates.
Although there is no official confirmation yet for the public release of StreetView imagery in the UK, it's expected to happen before the end of 2008.
