Internet search engine giant Google Inc. has this week removed potentially sensitive imagery from its popular Street View mapping service following a security-related instruction issued by the U.S. Government.
Pentagon request sees Google pulling images from Street View service. Credit: Google.
More pointedly, the Pentagon contacted Google with a view to taking down certain map content as its public availability was considered to form a threat to various U.S. military installations.
In commenting on Google’s position and its response following the U.S. military’s approach, company spokesman Larry Yu said that: “In those instances whey they have expressed concerns about the imagery, we have accommodated their requests.”
The Street View service, which is itself a contributing feature of Google Maps, provides users with ground level real-world imagery captured from across 30 cities within the United States. Its content delivery allows users to view and navigate through an on-screen representation of the city streets as if they were actually there.
While complaints have dogged the service in terms of people unwittingly captured within its images claiming that it invades their public privacy, this is the first time Google’s Street View has been directly targeted by the authorities.
Specifically, the Pentagon has conveyed its concerns to Google regarding images that include views of military bases and the security in attendance at the entry points of those supposedly secure facilities.
“It actually shows where all the guards are. It shows how the barriers go up and down. It shows how to get in and out of buildings,” commented General Gene Renuart, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, in a Reuters report.
In answer to the U.S. military’s worry on the matter of capturing sensitive installation imagery, Google’s spokesman said that it was against company policy for “a [Street View] driver to seek access to a military base,” and that it was only permitted to photograph images visible from publicly accessible roads.
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MapsRusMar 8th, 2008 - 23:26:17
Hmmm..was a just a matter of time I guess. Check out this bloggers list of questionable Google Street View sightings: streetviewgallery corank com
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MapsRusMar 8th, 2008 - 23:26:17
Hmmm..was a just a matter of time I guess. Check out this bloggers list of questionable Google Street View sightings:
streetviewgallery corank com
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