Google is seeking to become the world's "do-everything" company when it comes to information, and Google Maps has been a large part of that effort. One facet of the service in particular is the famous (or infamous) "street view" feature, feeding panoramic pictures taken by roaming Google camera vans to the whole internet. Obviously, the potential for recording interesting moments in action is vast, and entire websites have sprung up around chronicling what exactly happned when a camera van was passing through.

Even now the vans are at work in Japan, and as with everywhere else they've gone, their presence has raised concerns about privacy. Street view pictures could include mail addresses, faces, and all sorts of things someone might not want the whole internet to see.

To head off the complaints, Google released the animated short above, showing off its privacy protection systems in the most adorable way possible, with a little robot that reminds me of the duck-faced coffee-making robo-maid from some time ago.

Awwww, look at the precious thing! I'd let it accidentally reveal my address anytime.