Why governments tremble over Google Earth

**MIG-31** · Dec 20, 2005, 04:33 PM

When Google introduced Google Earth, free software that marries satellite and aerial images with mapping capabilities, the company emphasized its usefulness as a teaching and navigation tool. The company also advertised the pure entertainment value of Google Earth's high-resolution flyover images of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and the pyramids.

But since its debut last summer, the software has received attention of an unexpected sort. Officials of several nations have expressed alarm over its detailed display of government buildings, military installations and other important sites within their borders.

India, whose laws sharply restrict satellite and aerial photography, has been particularly outspoken. "It could severely compromise a country's security," V. S. Ramamurthy, secretary in India's federal Department of Science and Technology, said of Google Earth. And India's surveyor general, Maj. Gen. M. Gopal Rao, said, "They ought to have asked us."
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Sandok · Dec 20, 2005, 04:34 PM

I'm indian and sometimes, I'm soo ashamed of my country

Vikingod · Dec 20, 2005, 04:42 PM

Nothing to be ashamed of, security is important. The images of governement installations of any country should not be available to the general public. Average Joe has no use for them, so it shouldn't matter, and something like that is a national security threat. I don't blame countries for having a problem with this.

mike2h · Dec 20, 2005, 07:10 PM

well, the other side is, if google can get this stuff then i am sure that anybody that really wants it can get it to. it is not like google has a secret clearance or anything like that.

Falstaff · Dec 20, 2005, 08:33 PM

keyhole sat pics are nothing new, it is the real time updates that scare people..LOL
can tell you for a fact that many of the sensitive sites that I know of are mysteriously missing from the overhead views...
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
not surprised..LOL

Zelig · Dec 20, 2005, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff

can tell you for a fact that many of the sensitive sites that I know of are mysteriously missing from the overhead views...L

Yeah, though most of these sites are in the US AFAIK. If google is going to blur out sites that the US doesn't want viewable, they should extend the same courtesy to other countries.

calidan · Dec 20, 2005, 08:55 PM

I also think that the governments of those countries don't like the fact that it is a lot easier now to get the sat photos. Before, Avg Joe didn't care enough to try to get them. I think it's pretty cool now that we can look at sat photos. It gives people a different perspective on our world.

nForcer · Dec 20, 2005, 09:08 PM

Hey if they REALLY wanted to cause a fuss...where were they when the US/Russia/etc launched satellites capable of Earth Photography?

You can't start complaining when the time for it has already passed. And besides, 90% of Google Earth is 2+ years old and most places aren't more than blips on the screen hardly identifiable by the casual viewer. And besides, unless you've given someone a REASON to check out your government buildings, then you don't have anything to worry about.

kelston · Dec 20, 2005, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nForcer

And besides, unless you've given someone a REASON to check out your government buildings, then you don't have anything to worry about.

Terrorism has no reasons and requires none.

nForcer · Dec 20, 2005, 11:21 PM

How thoughtful. Now explain to me why we have not shut off our phone lines since that can assist terrorists in thier missions. Now how about television, or just communication in general?

Which brings me back to my point - unless you've given then a reason, you don't have to worry.

PS. Terrorists HAVE a reason, don't kid yourself. If anything they have a very STRONG reason and are very willing to act upon it.

kelston · Dec 21, 2005, 12:47 AM

Phones, TVs, communication, heh. Nice pulling the extremes there, bubba.

The difference between communication and a satellite image is the difference between giving someone your address and giving someone the keys to your front door.

But then again, given the recent push on the Patriot Act, the communication lines are going in that direction.

Reasons? Heh. Funny. Don't try to justify terrorism or spew political propaganda. Give a legitimate reason behind terrorism or can it.

nForcer · Dec 21, 2005, 04:12 AM

Extreme? Since when is a phone 'extreme'? You might want to figure out what point you're trying to prove, instead of looking for anything to make you sound right.

Well, argue whatever point you want to. I've made mine, its sound, and I'm not going to look like an idiot trying to argue with one.

Have a nice day!

kelston · Dec 21, 2005, 04:40 AM

Please address the point rather than using the ad hominem fallacy to attempt to prove your own. kthx.

Of course, I forgive you. It's rather difficult to come up with logical defenses of terrorism. But hey, you tried, I guess.

pr0digal jenius · Dec 21, 2005, 04:43 AM

fellas...calm down.

And i personally love my google earth, and well, msot of the images are pulled from the USGS satellite, which is public domain anyways

Dec 20, 2005, 04:33 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,857 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Why governments tremble over Google Earth When Google introduced Google Earth, free software that marries satellite and aerial images with mapping capabilities, the company emphasized its usefulness as a teaching and navigation tool. The company also advertised the pure entertainment value of Google Earth's high-resolution flyover images of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and the pyramids. But since its debut last summer, the software has received attention of an unexpected sort. Officials of several nations have expressed alarm over its detailed display of government buildings, military installations and other important sites within their borders. India, whose laws sharply restrict satellite and aerial photography, has been particularly outspoken. "It could severely compromise a country's security," V. S. Ramamurthy, secretary in India's federal Department of Science and Technology, said of Google Earth. And India's surveyor general, Maj. Gen. M. Gopal Rao, said, "They ought to have asked us." _______________ Read More: News.com __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Dec 20, 2005, 07:10 PM	#4
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	well, the other side is, if google can get this stuff then i am sure that anybody that really wants it can get it to. it is not like google has a secret clearance or anything like that. __________________

Dec 20, 2005, 08:33 PM	#5
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	keyhole sat pics are nothing new, it is the real time updates that scare people..LOL can tell you for a fact that many of the sensitive sites that I know of are mysteriously missing from the overhead views... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm not surprised..LOL __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Dec 20, 2005, 08:55 PM	#7
calidan Frozen in Carbonite Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,409 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I also think that the governments of those countries don't like the fact that it is a lot easier now to get the sat photos. Before, Avg Joe didn't care enough to try to get them. I think it's pretty cool now that we can look at sat photos. It gives people a different perspective on our world. __________________ Steam Community :: ID :: calidan "Don't try to be like Jackie. There is only one Jackie.... Study computers instead." - Jackie Chan

Dec 21, 2005, 12:47 AM	#11
kelston HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bayside, NY USA Posts: 360 Rep Power: 0	Phones, TVs, communication, heh. Nice pulling the extremes there, bubba. The difference between communication and a satellite image is the difference between giving someone your address and giving someone the keys to your front door. But then again, given the recent push on the Patriot Act, the communication lines are going in that direction. Reasons? Heh. Funny. Don't try to justify terrorism or spew political propaganda. Give a legitimate reason behind terrorism or can it. __________________ Pants are a dangerous foe!

Dec 20, 2005, 04:34 PM	#2
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	I'm indian and sometimes, I'm soo ashamed of my country

Dec 20, 2005, 04:42 PM	#3
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Nothing to be ashamed of, security is important. The images of governement installations of any country should not be available to the general public. Average Joe has no use for them, so it shouldn't matter, and something like that is a national security threat. I don't blame countries for having a problem with this.

Dec 20, 2005, 09:08 PM	#8
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Hey if they REALLY wanted to cause a fuss...where were they when the US/Russia/etc launched satellites capable of Earth Photography? You can't start complaining when the time for it has already passed. And besides, 90% of Google Earth is 2+ years old and most places aren't more than blips on the screen hardly identifiable by the casual viewer. And besides, unless you've given someone a REASON to check out your government buildings, then you don't have anything to worry about.

Dec 20, 2005, 11:21 PM	#10
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	How thoughtful. Now explain to me why we have not shut off our phone lines since that can assist terrorists in thier missions. Now how about television, or just communication in general? Which brings me back to my point - unless you've given then a reason, you don't have to worry. PS. Terrorists HAVE a reason, don't kid yourself. If anything they have a very STRONG reason and are very willing to act upon it.

Dec 21, 2005, 04:12 AM	#12
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Extreme? Since when is a phone 'extreme'? You might want to figure out what point you're trying to prove, instead of looking for anything to make you sound right. Well, argue whatever point you want to. I've made mine, its sound, and I'm not going to look like an idiot trying to argue with one. Have a nice day!

Dec 21, 2005, 04:40 AM	#13
kelston HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bayside, NY USA Posts: 360 Rep Power: 0	Please address the point rather than using the ad hominem fallacy to attempt to prove your own. kthx. Of course, I forgive you. It's rather difficult to come up with logical defenses of terrorism. But hey, you tried, I guess. __________________ Pants are a dangerous foe!

Dec 21, 2005, 04:43 AM	#14
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	fellas...calm down. And i personally love my google earth, and well, msot of the images are pulled from the USGS satellite, which is public domain anyways