[Infowarrior] - Google, British military discuss Google Earth use in attacks

[Richard Forno]

Google, British military discuss Google Earth use in attacks
January 16, 2007 3:13 PM PST
http://news.com.com/2061-10803_3-6150596.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&sub
j=news

Google is talking with military agencies in Iraq after learning that
terrorists attacking British bases in Basra appear to have been using aerial
footage from Google Earth to pinpoint strikes, according to the United
Kingdom's Daily Telegraph.

Among documents seized in raids on insurgents' homes were printouts from
photos taken from Google Earth that show the location of buildings, tents,
latrines and lightly armored vehicles, the news site reported. On the back
of one set of photos, someone had written the precise longitude and latitude
of the Shatt Al Arab Hotel, where 1,000 Staffordshire Regiment soldiers are
headquartered, the report said.

"This is evidence, as far as we are concerned, for planning terrorist
attacks," said an intelligence officer with the Royal Green Jackets battle
group. "We believe they use Google Earth to identify the most vulnerable
areas, such as tents."

A Google spokesman said the satellite mapping information could be used for
"good and bad" and can be accessed via numerous means. "Of course we are
always ready to listen to governments' requests," he said. "We have opened
channels with the military in Iraq, but we are not prepared to discuss what
we have discussed with them. But we do listen and we are sensitive to
requests."

Royal Green Jackets soldiers based at Basra Palace base said they would
consider suing Google if they were injured in any attacks in which Google
Earth aerial shots were used.
Posted by Elinor Mills