Sure it's normal behaviour, but just the tiniest part of the capability.
Google used to (and still does) have vehicles driving around recording GPS location and "Street View", along with WiFi network identification/availability and signal strength, encryption standards, and who knows what else.
Then they had the brilliant idea that since so many people have pocket computers with cameras, GPS etc., why not just create an app called "Goggles" that lets everybody contribute their photos, GPS locations etc. to the worldwide database of information.
Now Google has an ever-growing source of information about you, your locations and interests at any given time, and who knows what else? Of course, Google would never share any of that information with third parties like the NSA, as they use the picture you submitted with the Goggles app for your own benefit of product identification.