Does Google Earth provide too much information? Could it become a tool of terrorists?
Over the weekend I was talking with some friends about random events going on in the world and I asked the question “do you think the CIA will ever censor Google Earth?”
Now we discover that the suspects being held for the John F. Kennedy airport terror plot possibly referenced Google Maps as a part of the supposed plan.
Here is a look at what the suspects said:
One of the plotters behind the alleged scheme to explode gas pipelines at John F. Kennedy International Airport directed his co-conspirators to use Google Earth to obtain detailed aerial photos of the targeted facility.
If you follow the link above you can see transcripts of the interrogation.
So Geek With Laptop readers, what do you think? Did the suspects actually reference Google Maps?
In a broader context, just how much information should Google Maps be allowed to show its users? Is there such a thing as too much transparency?
- Live Traffic Information With Google Maps | April 10, 2007
- Google and NASA Team Up | September 24, 2007
- Google Earth Adds Star Gazing | August 22, 2007
- Terrorists Take Over Google Earth | January 17, 2007
- Google Trek | December 19, 2006
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Observatory_Circle_Google_Maps.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Royal_Stables.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_blurred_out_on_Google_Maps
The first thing that occurred to me when I heard about Google Earth was to check out Area 51. Originally the app said the image was not available, but now it is. It makes me think they must have needed time to edit the map.