too good to last

On slashdot, kdawson posts on censorship of Google Maps/Earth spatial data.

Cyphoid writes

“While viewing my school (the University of Massachusetts Lowell) with Google Maps, I noticed that a select portion of the campus was pixelated: the operational nuclear research facility on campus. Curious, I attempted to view the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It too was pixelated. What or who is compelling Google to smudge out these images selectively? Will all satellite images of facilities that the government deems ‘sensitive’ soon be subject to censoring?”

Not surprisingly, the same areas are blurred in Google Earth. But how about images from satellites operated by other nations, such as SPOT or Sovinformsputnik?

It’ll be interesting to see what’s next? My guess is:

  • US major infrastructure, including dams and bridges
  • Celebrity’s houses
  • Sensitive sites, however foreign governments wish to define them

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