Why Exclusive Mobile Content Deals Don't Make... >>
<< When You Say Free Credit Report, It Should Be...
 tdicon 

Overhype

by Carlo Longino

Tue, Aug 16th 2005 4:22pm





Google Earth A Security Risk

from the i-spy-from-my-little-eye dept

Online maps are a big deal in more ways than one: the Dutch are the latest to raise security concerns over Google Earth, saying the images of government buildings, airports and ports could aid terrorist attacks. This follows similar statements from the US military in Iraq and calls from Australia for Google to censor images of nuclear reactors and other sites. Google already blurs images of some buildings, like the US Capitol, but a spokesman for the Australian attorney general's office says the satellite images have been reviewed and pose no security threat, as they're already in the public domain and available elsewhere. If a terrorist is sufficiently motivated to mount an attack and want satellite photos, they're going to get them with or without Google Earth. To shut it down over security concerns would mean preventing any useful or helpful applications of the technology too.

9 Comments | Leave a Comment

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1.  
    identicon
    Xander Sholtz, Aug 16th, 2005 @ 6:54pm

    Bull sh*t

    I've been able to get sat. maps on the net for years (since around 2000 I think) Google Earth is just a new, cool, helpful way to do it.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Nick, Aug 16th, 2005 @ 8:10pm

    Re: Bull sh*t

    Amen

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Boris, Aug 16th, 2005 @ 9:10pm

    Agreed

    I agree, if a terrorirst really wanted to get a hold of some satelite photos, he would not use google earth, but a different service that would be a lot more clear and much more recent. People forget, that these photos are not brand new. They were taken sometime in the last 2-3 years. So, they pose no immedeate threat.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    BRIAN REISS, Aug 16th, 2005 @ 11:13pm

    CREDIT CHECKS?

    I'LL LIKE TO ACTUALLY SEE A "FREE" CREDIT CHECK.ALL THESE COMPANIES DO IS SAY IT'S FREE,BUT YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR THEIR SERVICE ETC., TO GET IT.THAT'S B.S. AND THERE IS NOTHING FREE ABOUT IT.IT'S THE GOOD OLD BAIT AND SWITCH AND SOMEHOW THEY CALL IT LEGAL? I'D LIKE TO KNOW JUST WHO THEY THINK THEY ARE HELPING, EXCEPT THEMSELVES INTO YOUR PANTS POCKET FOR YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO GET SOME OUTDATED JUNK.VERY LITTLE,IF ANYTHING, ON THE INTERNET IS "FREE".THAT STINKS, THE WAY THEY CAN MISLED. PEOPLE.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Aug 17th, 2005 @ 1:27am

    Re: CREDIT CHECKS?

    wrong article?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    dan, Aug 17th, 2005 @ 5:52am

    Re: CREDIT CHECKS?

    stop shouting in the wrong article.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Mike Sierra, Aug 17th, 2005 @ 8:04am

    wrong link

    The link to the Capitol is actually referencing the White House on 1600 Penn Av. Go ESE a bit and you get to the pixillated Capitol.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Carlo, Aug 17th, 2005 @ 1:37pm

    Re: wrong link

    Sorry about that. Fixed, thanks.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 16th, 2007 @ 6:28am

    I didn't see anything blurred out when I looked at the Capitol building... no pixelation or anything other than some construction in the road in front of the building.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Save me a cookie
  • Note: A CRLF will be replaced by a break tag (<br>), all other allowable HTML will remain intact
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
Why Exclusive Mobile Content Deals Don't Make... >>
<< When You Say Free Credit Report, It Should Be...
 tdicon 
Follow Techdirt
Flattr rss rss
A word from our Sponsors...
Sponsored Resource
Essential Reading
Techdirt Reading List
Techdirt Insider Chat

A word from our Sponsors...
Recent Stories

Thursday

4:16am: If You Were Bradley Manning, What Would You Do? (4)
2:14am: FTC Planning To Go After Patent Trolls (3)
1:30am: There's No Silver Bullet Strategy For Monetizing Apps, But There Are Lots Of Options To Compare (0)

Wednesday

11:08pm: Germany's Spies Have NSA Envy: Currently Working To Build Their Own Comprehensive Snooping System (11)
8:03pm: Arizona Court Skeptical Of 'Medical Excuse' From Prenda Lawyers (22)
5:00pm: DailyDirt: Air Hockey Robots (3)
4:16pm: More Details Emerge As States' Attorneys General Seek To Hold Back Innovation On The Internet (30)
3:26pm: Supreme Court Says Patent Abuse Can Violate Antitrust Laws (7)
2:32pm: Microsoft Capitulates, Removes Online DRM From Xbox One (89)
1:31pm: The Next Time Someone Says Twitter Is Killing Deep Thinking With Short Quick Messages, Show Them This (41)
More arrow
A word from our Sponsors...

Close

Email This