Google Street View Criticized For Showing 'Secret' SAS Base... That Has A Sign Viewable From The Street
from the see-if-you-can-spot-the-base dept
Vic writes in to let us know of yet another complaint against Google's Street View offering, this time in the UK, where apparently MPs and military bosses are upset that images are available on Street View of a "secret" SAS base. They're concerned that the images even show the sign saying "British SAS." But, of course, the only way Google got these images was by driving along public roads -- meaning that anyone could have driven along those roads and seen the same damn signs and buildings. It's not like this was actually a secret base at all -- and if it was, the UK military should have done a much better job of hiding it. If Google can "accidentally" discover it this way, you have to assume that anyone who actually cares would have figured it out long ago. The complaint is that those planning an attack can view the building via Street View... but, of course, they could also just drive by and take their own images. Oh, and of course, by complaining so loudly about this, it's only attracted that much more attention to the fact that the base exists and is viewable on Google Street View.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: privacy, sas, street view, uk
Companies: google, sas
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Lisa: Yay! I found Area 51!
Soldier: Actually, ma'am, this is Area 51-A.
Map: You are here. We are not.
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Re:
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Striesand Effect Anyone?
Of course now by going public and getting all pissy, you are just advertising its existence all loud and proud like.
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?Streisand effect?
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Re: ?Streisand effect?
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Re: Terrorist Attacks!?
I like their brainless little dig about how terrorists would use the images to plot attacks.
Since when is an attack on a military facility “terrorism”?
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Yes, because the US military would *never* do such a thing, right?
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1031603/pentagon-blows-google
People who live in glass houses, etc...
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yeah why add more publicity to this?
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Re: yeah why add more publicity to this?
Don't steal their thunder
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I can't see why...
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this is normal for all militaries...
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Re: this is normal for all militaries...
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that reminds me...
http://www.funnypictures.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/bat-cave.jpg
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Looks like Brits are just crying for attention!!!
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Not only, But also
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Oh do come on now
It's just the local MP trying to look busy and get attention in the run-up to the election and the typical journo half-job to fill column inches. The journo asks a chap down the pub with a tattoo and he says "oh yes, photos of a base might be used in planning an attack" and that becomes "military sources have concerns".
The government statement makes it clear that they understand they can't rollback the tide of publically available imagery eg Google maps/earth. No actual military chiefs are quoted so where did that come from?
Move along, nothing to see here.
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Shouldn't have placed labels
The SAS do have a point here.
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I get it.
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