How to build a fake Google Street View car
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Edit: This comment is from watching them dangerously cutting off cyclists and cars on the video.
Also, to me this feels like a really cheap move to try to spoil a brand's reputation. If they believe that there's a problem with google street view and privacy, they should try to raise awareness to it, not pretend to work for Google and act like jerks.
This way, the only thing that they achieved was damaging Google's reputation instead of making people aware of the privacy implications of cars with cameras capturing everything.
I believe they could have done something more interesting with this.
Basically, you alter the car with not-licensed-for-street-usage components (these self-made things e.g. alter the ride height of your car from the one spec'd in the vehicle ID card), which in itself invalidates the car's insurance (it's not a vehicle legal to drive on a street, thus it is not insured, thus you are not allowed to drive it!).
It's the same as if you'd change the exhaust for an illegal tuning variant, add a N2O booster, add under-floor lighting etc. DO NOT EVER DO THIS IN ANY EUROPEAN COUNTRY.
You do not go to jail in the EU for adding under-floor lighting to your car, nor fitting a roof rack, or any other such additional fittings. A car must pass it's MOT and have valid insurance, that is all. MOT requirements differ from country to county, and all insurers are different. If it fails and you keep driving it then you'll end up with a fine.
Violating that rule invalidates the permission to drive that car on a public road, immediately voiding insurance coverage. You'd better not have an accident with that car, because you're personally liable for any damage caused. That might not bring you to jail, but can seriously ruin your life if you cause a permanent injury to someone else.
Point is that you won't 'go to jail in the entire EU', or anything of the sort for simply driving car with an unusual load on the roof rack.
A whole load of both public and private organisations have the right to tow your vehicle for many, many things, like simply parking in the wrong place, and you have to do the paperwork.
At this point you're essentially just arguing that if you break you countries local laws you have to deal with the police... mmm.
I can't speak for the entirety of the EU, but I know for a fact that in the UK mounting something like this (assuming it's securely attached) is not illegal.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/loading-your-car-safely...
It's all moot though as they did it in Germany...
I failed to see the point of the project altogether, and found it rather rude to drill in rented equipment, too. I'm sensitive like that.
I mis-interpreted "If the car doesn’t come with one, rent or buy the specific roof-rack for that car", which still mentions renting the rack as a solution, of course, even if it seems they actually didn't rent the rack they used.
Else, it's illegal to drive with your construction on the road.
While not everybody might agree with the message, I think the project is no less manipulative than the Google branding ads from India, which try to positively change your impression of a large company by showing you something very emotional.
As a politician or as a company, lying is pretty bad. "Manipulation" through emotional ads is more or less expected though, it would be unprofessional to not use the same tools as everybody else. Just watch any tv ad.
Artists meanwhile enjoy complete freedom in what they do. The more creative and provocative they are, the better.
1) IANAL, but I think it's a trademark infringement to use the Google logo on that car
2) Let's ignore them intentionally bothering drivers and cyclists, but you go through the pain of building a rig and you don't put a camera in it? A cellphone with a GPS? Goddammit!!!