As digital devices and online services have exploded, Google Maps is one of the most used maps in the world. From guiding individuals towards directions, to helping companies optimize their location services, it can be used for a million different things. Therefore, a lot of companies and developers nowadays want to scrape data from Google Maps using the SEO Metrics Checker‘s Google Maps data extractor . These apps automate the extraction of Google Maps data for marketing, analytics and competitor research. But this practice is legally and ethically problematic.
Scraping Google Maps is a tempting option for companies seeking competitive edge via location data, but the legality of the practice is murky. Scraping is simply scraping open data but, for something as large and influential as Google Maps, the law gets involved. We’ll cover in this post the legalities of scraping Google Maps, terms of service, copyright, privacy, recent cases and ethical considerations.
What is Web Scraping and How it Does Apply to Google Maps?
Web scraping is the act of scraping websites (often automatically). It is basically a program or script that gathers information in the form of routinely from the webpages which then can be converted to a usable format like database or spreadsheet. There are a number of legitimate applications for web scraping from research and data mining to the business intelligence that is used in various fields. It can be used on Google Maps where users can harvest location data such as business, reviews, and coordinates.
Scraping is attractive on Google Maps since the service consists of a lot of information. Using Google Maps scraper or data scraper like a google maps scraper you can gather information about businesses, tourist attractions, and people to have it used for business decisions and marketing. All these can be advantageous but you have to keep in mind that there are terms of service for Google Maps that dictate how data can be viewed and used. Scraping from Google Maps if you don’t follow these rules could result in penalties under the law as we’ll see.
Google Maps Conditions of Use: Limitations and Permissions.
One of the first steps to find out if scraping Google Maps is legal is to look at Google’s Terms of Service carefully. Google is clear in their terms and conditions about what the data that is displayed on its websites, including Google Maps, can and cannot be used for. Usually, Google lets others use and access its data via a process with special permissions (like APIs), that allow structured data access and respect Google’s IP and infrastructure. Google Maps API, for instance, provides a legal route to Google Maps data, paid for and with limitations.
The scraping with a Google Maps scraper however, goes directly against the API and gets at the data, typically breaking Google’s Terms of Service. Scrapers who scrape Google Maps without an API do not go through Google’s approved paths and violate the contract. This can lead Google to take action against the violating user or company, for example by issuing ceaseanddesist letters or suing. Knowing these terms is key for any business that doesn’t want to be locked into a Google war by using location data.
Copyright and Data Ownership Questions: Copyright Problems and Data Ownership Issues?
Copyright & Data ownership are also factors in the legality of scraping Google Maps. Google Maps data is copyrighted as it is created and stored by Google which renders the content a kind of intellectual property. Location data might seem random or anonymous, but Google spends a significant amount of money to collect and store it, so it has some rights to the data. This is why scraping Google Maps with a tool can be copied by Google in some cases, depending on how the data is harvested and used.
There are a lot of corporations that wrongly think that publicly available information is unlimitedly useable. But how data are presented and structured on Google Maps is a private matter. So scraping Google Maps data commercially without permission is copyright infringement. Companies that use the extracted data for operations or products could face legal writs and thus it is vital to consider the copyright before doing any kind of Google scraping .
Data Protection Regulations and Privacy Laws / Laws of Privacy (Blocking):
Not only copyright, but privacy laws and data protection laws also determine the legality of scraping Google Maps. The law governing how personal data is collected, stored and used in most countries is strict. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for example contains detailed data privacy regulations applicable to any company anywhere in the world that processes personal information of European Union residents. If you scrape information from Google Maps, for example, if there are any personal identifiers or usergenerated data (reviews), you might violate privacy laws.
Google Maps extractor tool might also collect sensitive data, even accidentally. If this data contains any identifiable data that identifies its users, then the data may come in to trouble under the privacy laws. Companies that may want to exploit a Google Maps data scraper must be aware of this danger and comply with data protection laws. Failure to do so can get you hefty fines and reputational damage, particularly in areas where privacy laws are harsh.
Web Scraping Case Studies and Legal Examples Web Scraping Case Studies and Legal precedents.
The recent legal proceedings regarding web scraping can give you a headstart on what scraping Google Maps could mean. LinkedIn vs. HiQ Labs is just one example: LinkedIn sued a data company that scraped its publicly accessible profiles. While the courts eventually sided with HiQ Labs and permitted them to scrape LinkedIn’s public data, this case also revealed the legal issues that come with scraping public data. Google’s web scraping policy may not be the same though, each company has different policies and different data types.
Another example to illuminate the possibility of litigation is Craigslist vs 3Taps lawsuit, in which Craigslist succeeded in blocking third party scraping of its listings. This sort of case shows that although some judgments favour scraping public data, each case is different and will be interpreted based on the platform’s Terms of Service, data types, and jurisdiction. Companies considering a Google Maps scraper should keep up to date with these cases and know that jurisprudence could have implications for their businesses if Google goes to court.
Moral Repercussions and Economic Solutions for Google Maps Scraping / Business Solutions For Google Maps Scraping.
In addition to the legality there are also moral issues that corporations should consider when scraping Google Maps. Scraping big amounts of data is hard on Google’s servers and can degrade the service for other users. Besides scraping also ignores the supposed access mechanisms from google, and this can be seen as Google’s manipulation. Moral enterprises advocate for legitimate use of digital infrastructure, with respect for the assets and intellectual property of service providers such as Google.
In place of scraping, companies can also go with Google Maps’ API – a structured data access that is legal and ethical. Although expensive and usage-constrained, the API keeps you on Google’s toes and out of trouble with the law. In using official channels, businesses can reap the rewards of Google Maps data without sacrificing transparency, compliant with law and regulations, for data collection.
Conclusion
Bottom lineThe idea of scraping Google Maps may seem attractive to corporations looking to collect valuable location data, but it poses significant legal and ethical problems. Terms of Service, copyrights, and privacy laws very strictly prohibit data scraping by anyone and companies who try it out. Although a few precedents suggest that scraping public data is legal, this isn’t always the case, especially with proprietary data (such as Google Maps).
If you are a company that is considering a Google Maps scraper or Google Maps data scraper, the best policy to follow is to follow Google’s API and policies. This option does not just make it legal but in the spirit of ethical business, avoiding any possible harm. Scraping Google Maps is complicated, you have to be familiar with the fine details to decide what to do as scraping data without authorization can cause expensive lawsuits and brand damage.
