Google look like they might be moving into law enforcement after two Dutch men who robbed a 14-year-old of cash and a cellphone last September, were arrested after their victim identified them on a photo on an online mapping service.

"Police managed to track down the men, twins aged 24, thanks to Google Street View" said Groningen police.

Their victim contacted investigators after he found a photo online taken moments before the robbery.

"As the faces were unrecognisable, Dutch police made contact with Google in the US, and received the original photograph by mail in June. An investigator immediately recognised one of the suspects," said the statement.

One of the two subsequently confessed.

Perhaps it's not a Web 2.0 invasion of privacy after all?!

Labels: Google, photography, street view, web 2.0