My opinion about the argument about Google Earth

Google Earth is a software program which offers maps and satellite images for complex or pinpointed regional searches. It was created in 2002 but today there is a violent controversy about this piece of software. The 9th of December 2008 we can read on the Internet that an Indian Court has been called to ban Google Earth amid suggestions the online satellite imaging was used to help plan the terror attacks that killed more than 170 people in Mumbai last month.

There are indications that the gunmen who stormed Mumbai on November 26 were technically educated. The group appears to have used complex GPS systems to navigate their way to Mumbai by sea. They communicated by satellite phone and may have a monitor to access the Internet and as a result, web browsers. Police in Mumbai have said that the terrorists were familiarized with the streets of Mumbai which implies that they could have used satellite images. A gunman who has been captured confirms this hypothesis. Consequently security agencies have called for the wealth of data available on Google Earth to be limited for several years amid fears the free access of maps and satellite images may prove usefulness of terrorists’ plans. Moreover Google Earth is accused of not including control to prevent misuses. Anybody can have a lot of details of nearby sensitive locations such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

In my opinion Google Earth must be reconsidered because it’s totally true that it can be used to help terrorists to get necessary information regarding particular locations. I believe that all countries should be able to give a list of areas that should be hidden to prevent security issues as decided within that country. Of course there is no question of removing Google Earth service because, actually, about 2,5 million people used it in the USA last month. Furthermore it’s really funny to go all over the world just with a mouse