How can Google do this??

I thought this was a hoax email, till I tried it. I don't understand what the powers that be at Google are thinking by offering this type of thing.

Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can
type someone's telephone number into the search bar
and hit enter and then you will be given a map to
their house.   Everyone should be aware of this!
Note that you can have your phone number removed or
blocked. Before forwarding this, I tested it by
typing my telephone number in google.com. My phone
number came up, and when I clicked on the MapQuest
link, it actually mapped out where I live. Quite
scary.   Please look up your own number. Read below
for details.   Think about it--if a child, ANYONE
gives out his/her phone number, someone can actually
now look it up to find out where he/she lives.   The
safety issues are obvious, and alarming. In order to
test whether your phone number is mapped, go to:
http://www.google.com/ Type your phone number in the
search bar (i.e., 555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you
want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private
information, simply click on the telephone icon or the
"Phone results" link next to your phone number.
Removal takes 48-hours.   If you are unlisted in the
phone book, you might not be in there, but it is a
good idea just to check. If your number does come up
if you hit map, it will show you a direct map to your
house...   Please forward on to friends and family!!!

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Print | posted on Monday, January 31, 2005 8:42 PM |

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# re: How can Google do this??

Unbelievable!! Not really, but thank you for the info. I have removed my number and encourage everyone to do the same. I will post this on my blog as well.

--Brent

2/1/2005 10:38 AM | bholliman

# re: How can Google do this??

In defense of Google, they didn't do anything but publish a large phone book. You can get the same information from http://www.smartpages.com, which is run by SBC. Some people might find this scary, but there is all sorts of information available. In Ohio, you can contact the Secretary of State's office, and get a list of registered voters with age, party affiliation (determined by which ballot you asked for in the previous primary), address, and in which elections they voted. Another "scary" example is our County Auditor's website. You can put in a persons name or address and it will tell you if they own property in the county. It also lists how much in property taxes they pay, when the house was built, how much they paid, and what school district they are in.

Anyway, just keep this in context please. :-)

2/1/2005 2:26 PM | Kelly Jones

# re: How can Google do this??

That's crazy. I'm unlisted in the phone book, but it still showed up. Thanks for the info.

2/1/2005 3:55 PM | Josh

# re: How can Google do this??

That's crazy. I'm unlisted in the phone book, but it still showed up. Thanks for the info.

2/1/2005 3:55 PM | Josh

# re: How can Google do this??

google sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2/8/2005 7:07 AM | dude

# re: How can Google do this??

SO IF THE SOLUTION CAN'T BE FOUND AS DISCRIBED THEN WHAT?
________________________________________________________________

"simply click on the telephone icon or the "Phone results" link next to your phone number."
________________________________________________________________

THEN WHAT THE HECK DO YOU DO TO BLOCK THE NUMBER? OURS IS PRIVATE AND I PAY FOR THAT SERVICE....YET GOOGLE CAN PLACE IT ONLINE!

CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME A HINT ON THIS?

2/25/2005 8:03 PM | LefelL-T

# re: How can Google do this??

I am unlisted and so are my BILs.. none of our nubmers came up. For the rest of you, you are listed in the phone book, in the national directory and on EVERY white pages.. and youa re worried about Google? Geez

3/3/2005 4:00 PM | phred

# re: How can Google do this??

I'm unlisted and my number did not map.... but get a clue people. This is not rocket science... 1) go grab your white pages from the cabinet 2) turn to ANY page 3) observe that the phone numbers have addresses associated with them 4) now take a guess how google maps the phone number

If your "unlisted" phone number shows up in internet based phone directories, consider if your number has ALWAYS been unlisted. Internet phone directories persist for years while your white pages re-new each year. Just because your paper directory gets updated doesn't mean that all the databases in the world automatically update.

3/20/2005 11:49 PM | Tim

# re: How can Google do this??

<I>That's crazy. I'm unlisted in the phone book, but it still showed up. Thanks for the info.</I>

Google does not have any information other than what has been published in phone books <B>at some point in time</B>. Did you remove yourself recently? That's probably it.

No need to start conspiracy theories, folks. Before screaming "think about the children" in horror, think a bit and you'll realize all this was doable with only slightly more effort 20 years ago with a collection of phone books and an atlas (both easy to find at your local library).

3/24/2005 12:36 AM | random passerby

# re: How can Google do this??

This is the same information one can get from dialing 411 or looking in your local telephone directory or whitepages.com. If you know someone's phone number than you know there name, most likely. The only difference here is that map quest is attached right to the address instead of making you do the work yourself.

3/30/2005 1:53 PM | John Smith

# re: How can Google do this??

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I click on Results and nothing happened... Help!

4/5/2005 7:49 AM | Liz

# re: How can Google do this??

I found it...!!! Hope it helps!

http://www.google.com/help/pbremoval.html

4/5/2005 7:53 AM | Liz

# re: How can Google do this??

Google can do this because corporations own our worthless do nothing grossly overpaid parasite like politicians (Reps/Dems) and they dont protect the average person.
I hope Google gets sued.

4/7/2005 3:57 PM | Lia

# re: How can Google do this??

You stole my name!

6/23/2005 11:33 PM | Another James Anderson

# re: How can Google do this??

Well if Google doesn't have it, check this site out.

I have 5 brothers in Law Enforcement, and this site had all thier phone numbers, addresses, etc..

One of their phones was just changed 2 days ago, thye had it and the new address.

They didn't like the idea, but he admitted later that he used the same database, www.nonpublished.com to locate one of his criminals.

\Bruce

12/19/2005 8:48 PM | Bruce

# re: How can Google do this??

For those of you that think Google can't find unlisted numbers...you're wrong. There are lots of people with unlisted numbers who put their numbers on blogs, MySpace profiles, Facebook pages, classified newspaper ads that get indexed by search engines and much more. They may not map to you, but they could have your number.

10/19/2007 10:10 PM | Unlisted Numbers

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