We believe ardently in privacy. But sometimes, too-paranoid defense weakens the case for the real thing. And it's no surprise that when Google makes satellite maps easy to navigate, some people will raise alarms.
In this case, however, fears are really overblown. The maps aren't much more detailed - and actually rather less detailed - than a plain old map, or even other freely available satellite photos (if you know how to look and how to use them). No one is going to discover hidden pot farms, your un-permitted tool shed, no one is going to detect protesters massing for a demonstration.
In fact, given the recent security breaches of major private databases on individuals, the total lack of accountability of credit reporting firms, and the truly porous and horrible state of medical record privacy, we have to ask: who the fuck cares?
We're curious what Bruce Schneier will have to say about this, but we'd bet he agrees with us on this. Worrying about this has all the weight of, say, a Congressional commission on steroid use in baseball while Afghanistan exports (mostly to the U.S.) the combined MLB roster's weight in heroin every other day.
Appropos of nothing, here's Ground Zero: 
Bottom line, there's not much to worry about
unless you are, say, Barabara
Streisand. Even then, so what? So lazy stalkers are more of a threat?
Doubtful. Real stalkers don't need Google when hiding naked in your shrubbery is so
much fun.
