Why Terrorists Love Google
India is joining South Korea, and a number of other countries, to pressure Google to “do something” about it’s “Google Earth” service.
The security organizations in these countries are alarmed at the ease with which Google Earth enables any user to quickly get a satellite photo of just about any area on the planet. This capability is nothing new, it’s been available from commercial photo satellite firms for over a decade. But what has changed with the Google offering, is that the company gathers together the largest collection of satellite photos ever, and makes them very easy to get at, by anyone with Internet access. This is what worries counter-terrorism officials.
First of all, Google isn’t alone. There are other search engines that offer a similar service. Xxxxx, xxx xxxx [removed upon kind request] It’s not that you don’t have libraries with books that have this footage too… It’s not that you have anything to hide, or is it? If any terrorist got briefed sufficiently enough, he would be getting military information from some corrupt high-placed officer, just like they get arms from those same sources. Blocking out a geographical tool like Google or any search engine is just like finding ‘a’ stick to beat ‘a’ random dog. This is ridiculous.
Anything that makes it easier for an Islamic terrorist to plan attacks, the more likely that attacks will be put together and carried out. In addition, South Korea fears that poverty stricken, but heavily armed, North Korea, could use Google Earth to more effectively plan military operations against them.
Perhaps you should also forbid road maps and kill anyone who retired from a job that involved working with ’sensitive’ information. Maybe eliminate all the workers that build the roads to your sensitive spots too. Added: Any country that asks for these maps to be changed is just ignorant and being stupid. But that’s just my two cents.
Source: Military Intelligence
“India, you suck.”
So do u say America suck, South Korea suck, Australia suck? and many more…..
These coutnries have their needs. Why do u think White house has bee altered on google earth? Dont just say u suck just because u love technology. U cannot risk lives of people by this.
Comment by Ranjith | April 16, 2006
Ah, I didn’t quite make myself clear. I think all censorship is bad, and I think it’s ridiculous that the White House location has been altered too, just as all the other changed locations. India is just very very late to come up with its objections. It’s not like there’s a cache or something… it’s not like people already had the chance to find whatever data they needed. There’s tons of ways to get the exact location. Changing or masking something on Google won’t make a difference.
Same goes for North & South Korea, fearing now evil people will use the maps to target sensitive buildings. If anyone wanted to plan a strike, be sure they’ll get their hands on specific data coming from many other sources than Google.
Comment by Coolz0r | April 16, 2006
I have to say I agree that this kind of censorship is ridiculous and any country that thinks it is effective really need to take a long hard look at their counter terrorism efforts. These people have already managed to get weapons/explosives/whatever else so are they really going to have any trouble getting hold of some satellite imagery/accurate maps. I doubt it and would hope the arms were a lot harder to get hold of and get in position…
Comment by Marcus D. Hanwell | April 16, 2006
you suck.
As if an entire country is actually making a request.
learn how to think.
Comment by You Suck | April 16, 2006
Its easy to conclude that a certain country with a billion people to protect sucks. The similarity between India and South Korea is that both have very hostile neighbours and both have been fighting a proxy war with them. It’s quite natural then, for both the nations to be insecure about things like satellite pictures being available freely over the internet.
If Google is so concerned about its Earth thingie maybe its loved ones should spend more time, money & effort in convincing these countries about the safety features of the product rather than being judgemental. Just my 2 rupees
Comment by Bhooshan | April 16, 2006
By country I mean people who are responsible for the request. Of course, not the entire nation is supporting it, but a country is represented by a government, thus if this government acts ridiculous, I find the country ridiculous. Not the people that live in it. Very often I can say Belgium is being ridiculous too, the way politicians behave sometimes and the way that makes our image to the rest of the world.
Comment by Coolz0r | April 16, 2006
I agree with Coolz0r here. Governments represent their nation/country. So if any government acts foolish or stupid, they are making their nation/country look ridiculous.
I was born and raised in the Netherlands, have always lived here, and am truly proud to be Dutch, but I often think the Dutch suck as well. Especially the government, that is!
Comment by FreeBee | April 16, 2006
Your rant (ie., sucks) shows how immature your brain works.
Comment by Patrick Whittingham | April 17, 2006
“I think it’s ridiculous that the White House location has been altered too,”
Are you mad? Yes you are .
How dare you write “India, you xxxx” and still having it there even though its strikeout. Now its more prominent. I request you to completely remove those words right now. or else you may need to face the consequences. When you think that White House position too shouldnt be altered,then why the hell you didnt wrote “AMERICA, YOU SUCK”
I agree that all the resource are available in interenet or with someother resources, but my question is why the hell google or other search engines only “blur or block”, “USA based military/important places alone” and showing all the places of other countries??
Comment by Rohit | April 17, 2006
Hey, Rohit, chill out will you? I didn’t ask Google to change Google Earth. India did. If it means so much to you I’ll remove the words India, you and suck. You’re making me curious about your consequences though, so I’m also kind of tempted to let them out in the open because normally I don’t fall for blackmailers. You’re lucky it’s not my blog and I don’t want Nathan to get caught in a storm he didn’t cause himself.
FYI, there are plenty of other locations that are altered, and they’re not US only.
Comment by Coolz0r | April 17, 2006
Hey, thats cool man, you removed those words and thanks a lot. You know i love my country that crazy. Well i understnd that many other country sources are there live, and few are blocked. I also understand the usefull things from google maps. But if it comes to people’s life, i think google and other services needs to take some extra work and block important locations, not only indian places but throughtout all the countries.
Am sorry that i should not used America xxxxxxxxx words, in my comment, is it possible for you to edit that? if so remove it on my behalf.
Thankyou and all the best for you all, esp nathan….:)
Comment by Rohit | April 18, 2006
Nah, it’s ok. America does suck every once in a while.
Comment by Coolz0r | April 18, 2006
Here’s a related post which quotes this post and gives a different point of view on this issue: http://rightindian.wordpress.com/2006/04/18/indian-concerns-about-google-earth/
Comment by Libran Lover | April 18, 2006
Heard a story about maps…that there are islands in the atlantic that do not appear on them. But how would we ever ever know?
Comment by G Osborne | September 12, 2007