India may ban Google Earth after allegations that those responsible for the Mumbai massacre used the online tool to plan their attacks. Google may need more than its motto "Do No Evil" to prevent its technology from harming people.
A petition filed in the Bombay High Court asks the court to demand that Google blur sensitive images, until the court reaches a decision on whether to ban the satellite service altogether.
It seems reasonable to remove sensitive locations from Google Earth, but banning otherwise innocent tools capable of doing harm could be impossible. In other words, should officials ban cell phones, if terrorists use them to communicate?
O'Neill
Patrizia Pepe
Anya Hindmarch
Ban google, maps, cell phones, atlases, tourist guides, gps devices... the satellite images may have made it easier for the Mumbai terrorists, but they didn't make the attack possible. If they had been used to attack a secret government post, I'd be concerned but these were all public places, out in the open.
1One of my family members worked in a Top Secret location and every detail of that building complex was visiable on Google Maps. They should do something to keep that stuff a blur or invisible. It just makes things a little too easy when you can check Google and know the exact layout of a Top Secret location.
2I agree with Steph. The information is out there in other forms besides Google Earth. They were all public places.
3Queenegg, that is interesting to know.
It is hard to understand how the simple feature on Google could enable terrorists, but I am willing to hear a detailed argument about it. If it is legitimate, I think it is important to hear it out.
4It's different to blur a secret location on Google from blurring hotels and resorts. We might just as well close it. Terrorist can use *everything* and if that fails they'll find something else. Banning a webpage would be useless.
5I don't like google earth at all. I don't doubt that it aided terrorists in the attack.
6I love Google Earth and I think it's intentions are good, but I also think that certain things shouldn't be viewable. Didn't Sugar do a story about this not too long ago? Things Google Earth can't show you?
7Yea blue I member that. It was beautiful pictures of landscapes though...
8member? LOL... I meant REmember.
9Wow the things at people fingertips, anything these days can be used as a weapon.
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