Indian court asked to ban Google Earth

[The Straight Story]

Indian court asked to ban Google Earth

MUMBAI, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- An Indian court heard arguments to ban Google Earth amid suspicions that the online imaging tool was used in last month's deadly attacks on Mumbai.

Lawyer Amit Karkhanis argued Tuesday that militants use the free satellite imaging and other Web-based tools to plan and execute their attacks, a phenomenon called "the Google threat," The Times of London reported Wednesday.

The Mumbai High Court case alleged Google Earth and similar services "aid terrorists in plotting attacks" by supplying detailed images militants can use to familiarize themselves with their targets. More than 170 people died in the coordinated attacks on India's financial and entertainment hub in November.

The British Army may have already taken up the matter with the U.S. company, the British newspaper reported. It was reported last year that insurgents planning attacks on a British base in Basra, Iraq, used Google Earth and received clear images of buildings inside the camp. Google later replaced the images with photographs taken before the base was built.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/10/Indian_court_asked_to_ban_Google_Earth/UPI-47151228925959/

[Warpy]

1. The targets in Mumbai were such

that a simple street map would have been enough.

High tech is nice but banning it isn't going to stop determined terrorists from butchering people.

[Princess Turandot]

4. Not to mention that the terrorists could go to an imaging..

company's web site and likely buy the imagery themselves, assuming the free preview wasn't sufficient!

[Contrary1]

5. That last kitty pic...

he must be related to this little guy:

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Yes all technologies have good and bad things to them

and if you are a terrorist, this is your best source of satellite intel

So I am not surprised that it is going to be put to the test

As an emergency worker though... it can be extremely valuable

[JI7]

3. this would do as much to stop terrorists as if they were to just ask to ban terrorism

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. but don't ban the weapons they used

ooops, I guess this one is headed for the gungeon!