Indian Court Wants To Ban Google Earth In The Wake Of Mumbai Attacks
from the oh-please dept
You just knew this was going to happen eventually. Pretty soon after the attacks last month in Mumbai concluded, reports started coming out about how the terrorists made use of a variety of modern technologies to plan and execute the attacks. A few reports claimed that they had used Google Earth to familiarize themselves with the locations involved in the attacks (some reports had claimed that the terrorists had never been to Mumbai and just used Google Earth -- but other reports contradicted that).However, an Indian Court is now calling for the software to be banned saying that it "aids terrorists." Of course, so do maps or photographs of hotels, such as those placed online by the hotels themselves, but people aren't overreacting and calling for a ban of those things as well. Yes, we can understand the kneejerk reaction here, and the anger over these horrific attacks. But, banning Google Earth isn't the answer. If Google Earth weren't available, the attacks still would have happened. It's just that the planning would have been different. It's perfectly natural for people to lash out at technology used in a bad way after a tragedy, but hopefully the court won't overreact and will eventually realize the anger should be at the people who actually performed the attacks, not the tools they used.
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Filed Under: attacks, google earth, india, mumbai
Companies: google
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What about banning those devices?
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Banning blackberries
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*sigh*
@Chronno S. Trigger: Try to apply some intelligent thought. Just because they used those systems to plan the attacks does not mean they would not have happened if the technology wasn't available. Maybe the co-ordination wouldn't have been so precise (not necessarily a life-saver), maybe they'd have used black market military surplus instead of consumer models.
Either way, banning those devices would stop India from competing in a lot of modern business effectively while doing nothing to stop terrorism. I know you're a familiar name around here, but I would have hoped someone apparently taking their name from a classic RPG would know how to use logical thought some of the time.
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Re:
I was also pointing out that if they do ban Google Earth then they would also have to ban all tools that were used to make the attack easier. Those were just the one mentioned in the article, this could easily extend to boats.
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You'll have to use the "/sarcasm on" and "/sarcasm off" text for those who are sarcasmically challenged.
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The terrorists and the bad people used screwdrivers?
Lets ban screwdrivers!
They used cleaning products to make small bombs! lets ban cleaning products!
They learned to read and write in public institutions!
Lets ban all education
Oh no! they were born!
Lets ban unauthorized babies from being born!
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banning screwdrivers
People are such babies.
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Serious problems with this article
European Tourists and American Companies fail to visit or relocate to India In The Wake Of Mumbai Attacks
Next, replace the "anger over these horrific attacks" with "Price conscious companies". Lastly, any reference to Google earth need to be replaced with "Abdul, who goes by 'Joe King' while at work". And Vola! You got it right. A true winrar.
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It looks from the article that a group is only asking the court to direct Google to blur certain sensitive areas, not to ban the software outright.
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As others have suggested, taking this approach to its logical (if extreme) conclusion, will pretty much result in everything being banned!
Frankly I find it disturbing that the "knee-jerk" reaction of governments and others to almost any problem is to call for some kind of ban or other restriction of information or freedom.
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself".
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Re: "blurring sensitive areas"
"Oh, look, we don't have to spend time working out which targets to hit -- they've highlighted them for us!"
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Re:
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Ban boats!
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How about gas stations?
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Wheres the opposite
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Duh?!
Then... mine the water and put laser aimed, automated gun torrents around the perimeter of the island so no one can get through!
That'll keep those terrorists out!
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Re: Duh?!
Come on, people, do I have to think of everything? Throw me a bone, would you?
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Modern technology to blame
But let's ban Google Earth, because that's dangerous.
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Re: Modern technology to blame
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Ban the software, they said ... ?
Will the court stop at banning MS Internet Explorer, or is their definition of "software" broad enough that the OS has to go as well? This is a Linux or Mac conspiracy?
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Re: Ban the software, they said ... ?
So banning "the software" is, in deed, possible.
GB
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Re: Re: Ban the software, they said ... ?
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Google Earth
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So banning cell phones (or knocking down all the cell towers) would hurt the terrorists MUCH more.
But we know that will never happen, so there really is no point to banning ANY technology.
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Uh...
Without those, no attack would have been possible, no matter what intelligence gathering the terrorists had used.
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Re: Uh...
Did you know that India has some of the strictest gun laws in the world?
Do you think the terrorists had licenses for the weapons they used?
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Ban births
Therefore, I propose we not only legalize abortions, but make them mandatory for all pregnant women. We must think of the children!!!
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Obvious
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Re: Obvious
Logic that is clearly lost to the majority of pro-gun-ban liberals out there. People who break the law... don't follow the laws that would have prevented them from breaking the law. WoW, rocket science.
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Brilliant idea
It was terrorists who did this, right? So...and you're gonna kick yourselves when you hear this...let's ban terrorists! There problem solved. Can't believe it was so easy. You can thank me later.
Whaddaya mean terrorism is already illegal (=banned, right?) and yet it still happens? Some misunderstanding surely?
Oh, I get it, so banning something and stopping bad things happen are not cause and effect. Wow, this one is tough to solve!
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