Google Earth, the site launched in June this year, offers maps and satellite images for regional searches. Although not all areas are highly detailed, some images are very high resolution, and some show sensitive military or government locations.
Countries like India and China expressed concerns about danger of this knowledge to be used in possible attacks against those locations. Debbie Frost, spokewoman for Google, noted that the software uses information already available from public sources however Google welcomes dialogue with governments, and we will be happy to talk to authorities about any concerns they may have.
In Australia there is strong opposition from Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation ANSTO for making the Sydney Lucas Heights nuclear reactor images freely available. And ANSTO demands for the Google Earth images to be completely obscured or at least the quality of imagery downgraded.
I have just found out that now we have Yahoo Maps as well, which offers satellite imagery and appears to compete directly with Google and Microsoft.
ReplyDeletePolice is using Google Earth to identify the location of marijuana fields. While the cops would have been able to find the fields strictly based on the GPS coordinates, their use of Google Earth demonstrated just one way in which law enforcement agencies across the country and around the world are using the popular mapping service, both to fight crime and to offer valuable information to the public.
ReplyDeleteIt's impossible to say just how many law enforcement agencies are actively using Google Earth, but one thing is certain: looking at Google's often detailed images is a lot cheaper than flying helicopters or planes, particularly in remote areas with cash-strapped police departments.