SAN DIEGO -- For years, Google and other Web sites have been providing street maps, directions and satellite photos of your neighborhood. Now, the search-engine giant has a new product, and some critics are crying foul.

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Images: Google 'Street-Maps' San Diego
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As of this week, clicking on maps on the Google site and entering a street address can in many cases get you actual photos of the street. The pictures rotate in every direction, move and zoom. The new feature is called Google Street View.

Real estate agent Susan Gedestad told NBC that it would be especially helpful for out-of-town clients.

"It's nice to be able to actually see the neighborhood and not just know the statistics of the house," Gedestad said.

Google says that the 360-degree photos also give users a real-world view of their destination. But critics say it also gives an all-too clear view of people, homes and personal information, such as vehicle license plates.

Privacy expert Beth Givens told NBC 7/39 the street view photos can be misused because they show license plate numbers and other information.

"By putting these images on Google, there's the potential for anyone, frankly, in the world to view those images," Givens said.

The zoom feature displays close-ups of people who were on the street when the photos were taken. While these images are now just static photos, Givens said Google and other companies could one day use "real time" video.

"I think it's only a matter of time before this still image of the street expands to moving images, but also expands to many cities across the country,"Givens said.

Google did predict some of these privacy concerns and includes a help page that lets you report an "inappropriate image," and ask that it be removed, to protect someone's privacy.

Other companies also offer a similar feature. Microsoft, for instance, has street-level pictures of San Francisco and Seattle.