im interested in providing a google map in a website that lets people pinpoint public locations where they were or they have seen other people. Anyone has information about the privacy issue/legality? I have already contacted Google.
You will have to get legal help, but its not very difficult to make an assessment yourself. As long as the people who are being pin-pointed has no objection to it, then its okay. IMO, If someone posts on internet without my consent that he/she seen me at certain place, I will definitely object
yes it it is doubious, thats why i asked. the google template response was inconclusive. The objective is to get in touch or find out someone that you have seen somewhere but couldnt talk to, like when travelling to some far place. in the web app you ask if someone in the region knows or can reach that person or can pass a message so they can chat online or something. its obviously nothing that cant be done right now (in social networking websites, IRC) but with a different twist. Of course there will be security/privacy mechanisms, like malicious activity reporting, etc