Question

I have been asked by a client to map data, but the client does not what any other data besides addresses for geocoding to be sent to another server. Does the Google maps API submit other data besides addresses and latitude/longitude to Google?

For example, I would not want the “dealerInfo” node to be submitted to Google in the following XML used for a map on [http://www.coastalbendchevydealers.com/%5D%5B1%5D .

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<markers>
    <!-- Neessen Automotive -->
    <marker lat="27.5380258" lng="-97.8547257" dealer="Neessen Automotive">
    <dealerInfo><![CDATA[
        <table border="0" class="infoWindow">
            <tr><td rowspan="5" width="155" align="left"><img src="images/chevydealer.jpg" width="150" height="113"/></td></tr>
            <tr><td align="left"><strong>Neessen Automotive</strong></td></tr>
            <tr><td align="left">2007 S. US Highway 77 Bypass<br>Kingsville, Texas</td></tr>
            <tr><td align="left">361-592-2668</td></tr>
            <tr><td align="left"><a href="http://www.neessenautomotive.com" target="_blank">www.neessenautomotive.com</a></td></tr>
        </table>
    ]]></dealerInfo>
    </marker>

Answer 1

Keep in mind Google is providing this as a free service, if you are concerned over data sharing then look into the premium licensing (10K / year)

From Google’s Privacy Policy:

11. Licenses from You to Google.

11.1 Content License. Google claims no ownership over Your Content, and You
retain copyright and any other rights
you already hold in Your Content. By
submitting, posting or displaying Your
Content in the Service, you give
Google a perpetual, irrevocable,
worldwide, royalty-free, and
non-exclusive license to reproduce,
adapt, modify, translate, publicly
perform, publicly display and
distribute Your Content through the
Service and as search results through
Google Services. This license is
solely for the purpose of enabling
Google to operate the Service, to
promote the Service (including through
public presentations), and to index
and serve such content as search
results through Google Services. If
you are unable or unwilling to provide
such a license to Your Content, please
see the FAQ for information on
configuring your Maps API
Implementation to opt out.

11.2 Brand Features License. You grant to Google a nontransferable,
nonexclusive license during the Term
to use Your Brand Features to
advertise that you are using the
Service.

11.3 Authority to Grant Licenses. You confirm and warrant to Google that you
have all the rights, power and
authority necessary to grant the above
licenses.

Anyway, keep in mind no such thing as a free lunch. At the end Google does search, and the more data they can get the better search they have.