Google has quietly begun using dashcam footage from select UK partners to keep its Maps service updated with the latest road information, though the program remains limited in scope.
The tech company has partnered with two organizations in the United Kingdom - parcel delivery service Geopost and dashcam manufacturer Nextbase - to source video footage that helps verify and update road conditions in Google Maps.
Rather than collecting all available dashcam video, Google specifically requests footage only from public roads where Maps data needs verification or updating. For instance, the company might ask for video showing a newly installed speed limit sign to ensure accuracy of posted limits in the navigation app.
The process involves artificial intelligence analysis combined with human review to extract relevant details from the video footage. Once Google updates its mapping data, the original footage is deleted.
Privacy safeguards are in place - the program only involves pre-approved corporate partners who are notified about footage use. Special Google-provided technology automatically blurs faces and license plates before processing. No dashcam imagery from regular consumers or the general public is being collected.
Currently, based on the privacy policies of the participating companies, this initiative appears to be active only in the UK market. Google has not formally announced the program or indicated plans to expand it to other regions.
While discrete in scale, this targeted use of dashcam footage represents an innovative way for Google to maintain fresh, accurate road data in its widely-used mapping platform using real-world verification.
Note: The provided link about Ubuntu vulnerabilities is not contextually related to the article about Google Maps and dashcams, so following the instructions, I have omitted including any links in the article text.