Since Google seems to be taking ages to bring streetview to Europe, i was wondering – does anyone know what their plans are? Or is anyone doing streetview right now in Europe?

it just seems odd to me that nobody (as far as i know) is driving around say, Germany, and building up a streetview image database. unless somebody already is doing that?

Don't know about Europe, but they've started taking pictures around Australia:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,22809549-5014108,00.html

i wonder if they could contract this out. i wouldnt mind spending a few months this summer driving around France, for example.

In the UK (and I believe the same with Europe), you own the right to your image. So, Google would have to get consent (from your parent if your <18) or face being sued into oblivion for infringing/stealing/blah blah blah.

Basically, its a lot more difficult. I'm not sure if there is a loophole in that you can take multiple pictures of the same location and merge them (and remove things that have moved, eg people).

> and I believe the same with Europe

As far as German law goes, I asked a lawyer previously (scroll down to "Arne Trautmann"):
http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2007-06-12-n29.html

I'm just catching up on my GReader feeds (uhh, backlogs) and came across this TechCrunch story from yesterday:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/22/google-maps-street-view-heads-overseas/

Someone tells on a forum a saw a New Beetle in Paris a week or two ago.

[moved from "Google Snaps Australia"]

Take extra-special care of your appearance when walking around Australian capital city streets this summer, as one nose pick or bum scratch could be immortalised on Google Maps forever.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/googles-candid-camera-snaps-australia/2007/11/23/1195753275851.html