Posted on 03/04/2009 2:56:07 PM PST by FewsOrange
A California lawmaker wants to force Internet mapping services to blur detailed images of schools, hospitals, churches and all government buildings, reviving a debate over whether such images can assist terrorists.
Assemblyman Joel Anderson, a San Diego-area Republican, said he decided to introduce his bill after reading that terrorists who plotted attacks in Israel and India used popular services such as Google Earth and Microsoft's Virtual Earth.
But even if his bill becomes law, it might be difficult to prohibit Google Inc., Microsoft Corp. and other mapping companies from posting such photographs. That's because those images already are public and often are posted on the institution's own Web site.
"Just taking a picture of a building is not a threat because these images have been available for decades," said Simon Davies, president of London-based Privacy International, which has been critical of Google for taking photographs without consent.
Pam Greenberg, who tracks Internet and technology issues for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said California appears to be the first state to consider restrictions on Internet photos of potential terrorist targets.
Google spokeswoman Elaine Filadelfo said the company was studying Anderson's bill but noted that the company listens to complaints from the public. A Microsoft representative declined to comment.
Google and Microsoft do voluntarily limit online images to some extent.
The White House, the U.S. Capitol and military bases are found on Internet maps but cannot be viewed as clearly as the buildings on the streets that surround them. In most cases, Google and other mapping Web sites have removed those sensitive sites by request.
Google also removed shelters for battered women before it unveiled panoramic street-level photographs that show buildings in much closer detail, including possibly who's coming and leaving.
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(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Idiot
Legislation by anecdote. Wonderful.
Exactly.
Let’s target terrorists and not worry about internet maps.
Must be a joke. the constitutional protection is pretty clear. I mean, really crystal clear. Barring martial law of course...
No, but I agree with the notion that Google is a threat to privacy.
good idea. lets make law based on what we read in the liberal papers. way to be a RINO.
Without this technology, terrorists would actually have to hop in a cab and go look at the building in person before blowing it up.
Great work, doofus!
I bet this same doofus wants to spend money putting a traffic cam or police surveillance camera on every lamp post in the city
More evidence that we only need one house for 4 months every other year.
What a terrible idea. Really stupid!
I saw the article earlier today on FOX & he said something to the effect “that nobody has the right nor the need to view such detailed pics”.
Well tell me something — what business is it of YOURS, Mr. Amderson? Who are you to tell me what my rights & needs are? I can make that decision myself, thank u very much.
Stupid is as stupid does...
A lot of that going around lately...
Our country is run by morons.
Unfortunately this idiot is a Republican.
Assemblyman Joel Anderson, a San Diego-area Republican,
There's more of that than you know.
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