Google street view in India

GOOGLE launched its street view project in India yesterday aiming to collect panoramic images of the vast country, ranging from its palaces to its slums.

The 360-degree photographic mapping service, which is already in operation in more than 25 countries including Ireland, began gathering data in the southern city of Bangalore.

Street view has proved hugely popular since its launch in the US in 2007, but it has also run into trouble with several governments concerned about privacy.