MySpace ProfileMaps Powered by Google Gives a Whole New Meaning to Big Brother

"We're being watched!"

That was the first thing to pop out of my mouth as I saw myself on the map of MySpace ProfileMaps while looking at the famous French singer, Charlotte Gainsbourg's profile page.

This website, ProfileMaps that is powered by Google, gives a detailed look (with satellite photos) of people who have visited the MySpace profile.

You can copy and paste a code into your own MySpace page and the ProfileMap will start mapping everyone who visits your profile page after you put it on (it can't map previous visitors).

The ProfileMap is a free service supported by the number of people who click on the banner ad. It can also be used on other non-MySpace web sites.

The ad graphic (the picture banner that is shown on your profile) is what logs visitors-it won't work without it. The Myspace ProfileMap can show the Most Recent 100 and Profile Views, which can be artificially high if it's just you who is clicking the banner on your site.

However, I did notice (upon closer inspection) that the map didn't show the exact city I was in but rather the closest area instead. The map showed a red marker on Paradise, CA. Luckily that was some distance away from me and when I tried to zoom in, it would only go so far before it said the picture was not available. But still, it's a little disconcerting.

It said on the website (http://profilemaps.info/questions.php) that some people won't appear on the map because their browser blocks the referring page or their IP address (Internet Protocol) cannot be geolocated. Another reason, as ProfileMaps put it, could be that "something else funky is going on".

The ProfileMap, powered by Google, can derive the exact latitude and longitude for your ISP (Internet Service Provider) from your IP address.

You can block yourself from the map by clicking on the Block Yourself link that will add you to a widget (a small computer program or application) that also uses cookies (a small text file attachment that is placed on your hard drive). These enable your browser to block yourself on ProfileMap.

It will not remove you from maps you've visited but it will bock you from being mapped in the future (hopefully).