Posted on 02/01/2009 2:24:59 PM PST by Joiseydude
Google has dismissed concerns that terrorists are using its free mapping technology to help them carry out attacks.
The head of Google Earth said the program, which allows users to get a detailed bird's eye of practically any location on the planet, was not "tipping the balance in favour of the bad guys".
It emerged last year that Iraqi insurgents planning attacks on a British base in Basra had used Google Earth images in which individual buildings inside the camp could be seen clearly. Google replaced the images with photographs that predated the construction of the base.
(Excerpt) Read more at technology.timesonline.co.uk ...
I’m not a big Google fan, but he’s right. It’s not their fault if someone uses their software to plan an attack.
It’s like blaming handguns for shootings. The handgun doesn’t shoot the person, and likewise Google Earth doesn’t plan the terrorist attack. Should we blame the inventor of the jet engine for the 9/11 attacks? How about the company that created the twin towers?
The attacks are the fault of the nutjobs that plan and carry them out, not some piece of software.
“tipping the balance in favour of the bad guys”
of course it does. they didn’t have this technology before. They should reduce the resolution in Iraq & Afghanistan. That is outrageous that the terrorists could pick out buildings
That's exactly what I was going to say.
Truck drivers use a wide range of mapping programs along with google earth. Saves time and money.
Ban Computers!
Yeah, cuz they’re not like, evil, and stuff.
No, decrease the resolution of Iraq & Afghanistan on Google Earth.
“No, decrease the resolution of Iraq & Afghanistan on Google Earth.”
How about just removing Iraq and Afghanistan from Google Earth? While we are at it, why not just remove the entire earth from Google Earth... just to be on the safe side.
Let’s gouge our own eyes out too. You know, just to be on the safe side.
“How about just removing Iraq and Afghanistan from Google Earth? While we are at it, why not just remove the entire earth from Google Earth... just to be on the safe side.”
Sophistry.
Tim McVeigh got the blueprints for the Murrah Building, and robbers have been doing so for years. Nothing will stop a dedicated madman.
I’ve seen plenty of old cowboy flicks where the bank robbers were mapping out the town.
The benefits of these mapping and satellite programs vastly outweigh the bad things that can be done with them. The fact that they’re public doesn’t mean much to a dedicated terrorist. I’m sure we have plenty of enemies that would happily provide satellite imagery to terrorists.
“of course it does. they didn’t have this technology before. They should reduce the resolution in Iraq & Afghanistan. That is outrageous that the terrorists could pick out buildings”
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THat’s exactly right. Why won’t people even consider the idea that google could make changes and cooperate to hinder terrorists? I don’t understand why people won’t even consider it.
The whole middle east has awful resolution. Especially Israel.
That’s right.
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