Google Earth teams banned from military bases

[unhappycamper]

Google Earth teams banned from military bases
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Mar 8, 2008 6:53:10 EST

WASHINGTON — Citing security risks, the Pentagon banned Google teams from making detailed street-level video maps of U.S. military bases after images of a Texas base ended up on the popular Internet site.

A message sent to all Defense Department bases and installations around the country late last week told officials not to allow the mapping Web site to take panoramic views inside the facilities. Google said taking such pictures is against its policy and that the incident was a mistake.

Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, chief of the U.S. Northern Command, said Thursday that that the decision to issue a formal ban was made after at least one Google crew requested and then was permitted access to a base, identified in the message as Fort Sam Houston. He said he was concerned that allowing the 360-degree, street-level view could provide sensitive information to potential adversaries and endanger base personnel.

It’s a worry, Renuart said, because such views can show “where all the guards are, it shows how the barriers go up and down, it shows how to get in and out of buildings, and I think that poses a real security risk to our military installations.”

Google spokesman Larry Yu said a Google crew mistakenly asked for access to a base.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_googleban_030608w/

[mqbush]

1. So, Cheney's house is not on Google, military bases aren't,...

just your house and mine.

[rpannier]

2. I'm okay with this nt

[Benhurst]

3. I guess they will appear as black holes.

How appropriate.