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You are here: Home News Belgian News Belgium: Does Google Earth pose a threat to national...
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05/10/2009Belgium: Does Google Earth pose a threat to national security?

The Ministry of Defence has ordered an enquiry into whether Google Earth constitutes a threat to security or a tool for terrorists, reported De Zondag.

Google Earth is easily accessible to most people, allowing them to see all the corners of the earth from their own living room via satellite images. 

Terrorists interrogated by American authorities have already admitted that they consulted Google Earth to help them plan their attacks. 

The application is also useful for thieves.

Defence services around the world are worried that the images could also reveal the location of military bases, reported De Zondag, saying that the Netherlands and the United States have demanded that any images showing such bases should be deleted.

In Belgium, all of the satellite images are currently accessible to the general public. However, a group has been established to find “a global and structural solution to the problem that such accessible material on Google Earth might pose to Belgian security”. 

The results of this enquiry will be published in the coming months.

Le Soir/Expatica



3 reactions to this article

Jeff posted: 2009-10-05 11:02:58

Don\'t tell this guy that terrorists can buy maps too!

brusse posted: 2009-10-06 14:14:16

I don\'t know what kind of maps you\'re buying but mine don\'t have a little icon saying \'tanks\' here... which is exactly what google earth does.

Richard posted: 2009-10-07 13:26:51

Without any shadow of doubt - Google Earth is an invasion or one's privacy. The images do constitute a security risk - and thieves and others use it for unlawful purposes.
If politicians, governments, and the military can have areas deleted - the only fair option for Google to offer is for anyone to have images of their home deleted. I won't hold my breath.
I hope members of the Belgium Enquiry Team read this.

3 reactions to this article

Jeff posted: 2009-10-05 11:02:58

Don\'t tell this guy that terrorists can buy maps too!

brusse posted: 2009-10-06 14:14:16

I don\'t know what kind of maps you\'re buying but mine don\'t have a little icon saying \'tanks\' here... which is exactly what google earth does.

Richard posted: 2009-10-07 13:26:51

Without any shadow of doubt - Google Earth is an invasion or one's privacy. The images do constitute a security risk - and thieves and others use it for unlawful purposes.
If politicians, governments, and the military can have areas deleted - the only fair option for Google to offer is for anyone to have images of their home deleted. I won't hold my breath.
I hope members of the Belgium Enquiry Team read this.

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