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A satellite image of a Pune, India airport reveals a few Sukhoi 30 MK1 aircraft
Indian military forces are concerned over Google's level of clarity when it comes to armchair espionage

New Delhi TV is reporting that India may launch a formal complaint against Google over specific satellite images from Google Earth that reveal state secrets.  Indian authorities are concerned that half a dozen or so state-of-the-art Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter planes were caught on camera when the data aggregator for Pune, India collected aerial data of the Pune airport for Google.

The Sukhoi fighters (featured, right) are clearly visible at Pune airport and many other airports across India via Google Earth.  Indian Air Force officials claimed concern that this might occur several months ago, but what may make matters more upsetting to the Indians is the fact that similar Pakistani images are grainy and reveal little to no detail.  Other Indian military analysts have claimed satellite imagery has always been taken into account when guarding state secrets, but on the civilian and commercial espionage level Google Earth can still be harmful.

Last year, Indian officials attempted to negotiate a method of streamline-censoring certain images regarding national security, but no protocol ever solidified.  Images of sensitive US installations, such as the White House, have been blurred out from Google Earth, but Google representatives claim this was done by the data provider.  Unfortunately for countries interested in censoring overhead images, Google changes its data providers frequently in an attempt to get the most current images of Earth possible.  Many of these images are not even supplied from satellites, but from high altitude survey aircraft.  Censoring military data suddenly becomes the task of keeping track of all of Google's data providers in virtually every country in the world -- something Indian authorities want Google's help with.

Thailand, Australia and Russia have also filed similar claims against Google. 

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Google will get into more trouble
By tuteja1986 on 4/1/2006 4:33:14 AM , Rating: 2
Google earth shows location of few Amo dumb in Georgia that shows crap loads of old USSR Arterially , Anti Air missile and much more. these base are now totally unguarded..




RE: Google will get into more trouble
By josmala on 4/1/2006 7:26:35 AM , Rating: 2
Yes. April the 1st is great day for these kind of news. Google is in deep shit ;)


RE: Google will get into more trouble
By boinkle on 4/1/2006 8:28:15 AM , Rating: 3
The linked article was written on the 31st. Besides; it's not funny.


RE: Google will get into more trouble
By mlittl3 on 4/1/2006 11:37:25 AM , Rating: 1
Why is it not funny? It's not funny that a country can't hide its human-killing weapons from public view. I think you mean it's not funny that humans have to build huge destructive weapons to kill each other. And of course, you love technology like Google Earth that brings education of foreign places to the masses for use in distance education, geography classes, city planning, statistics on urban growth, etc. etc. This is what you meant of course. :)


RE: Google will get into more trouble
By boinkle on 4/1/2006 11:57:08 AM , Rating: 2
No, I was just being superficial ;)

It's not absurd enough to be funny.


By mlittl3 on 4/1/2006 12:14:40 PM , Rating: 1
Oh, well in that case, carry on. :)


By latrosicarius on 4/2/2006 11:40:12 PM , Rating: 2
I think it's pretty funny. The Indians are all worried about their jets being shown off, and now they get the image posted on the web for all the world to see and laugh.... APRIL FOOLS ROFL


RE: Google will get into more trouble
By hwhacker on 4/1/2006 9:21:16 AM , Rating: 1
If that's true, which I have no doubt you are right and it is...That's extremely frightening.

It is a good thing that attention is being drawn to it though, hopefully something will be done.


RE: Google will get into more trouble
By nafhan on 4/1/2006 10:24:01 AM , Rating: 2
In most places higher resolution images of a location are available to anyone willing to pay a few hundred dollars. Google is just displaying publicly available information in an easy to use format.


RE: Google will get into more trouble
By cookj128371 on 4/1/2006 11:43:59 AM , Rating: 2
True! People need to stop complaining about Google and start watching more closely those who provide the data, or be careful about what data they give out. Google is purely an aggregator--they only make it easier to access what is already publicly available. They do not create their own data, only pull from what others have already done. Brilliant to make such a huge and thriving business off of other people's data if you ask me!


By Griswold on 4/2/2006 3:09:31 PM , Rating: 2
I agree! It makes theft and terrorism much cheaper. Kudos to google for that!


By latrosicarius on 4/2/2006 11:37:50 PM , Rating: 2
They should build a frickin shed over their planes. This is the 21st century, you can't just leave your "top-secret" weapons of mass destruction out in your back yard.


Area 51
By Stoene on 4/1/2006 1:12:19 PM , Rating: 2
Type in Area 51 and it shows the top secret Groom lake facilty, nice. I tried to zoom in and see UFO but didn't see any unless of coarse they are shaped like building and hangers, hmmm.




RE: Area 51
By Lifted on 4/1/2006 1:38:07 PM , Rating: 2
You need to use goole earth to see our little friends. Unfortunately it's not on google maps.


RE: Area 51
By Lifted on 4/1/2006 1:41:42 PM , Rating: 2
I just realized the article didn't mention it, so the Area 51 post was probably just a coincidence, but google earth does have a little flying saucer at Area 51 today, being April 1st and all.


RE: Area 51
By Spinne on 4/1/2006 2:08:30 PM , Rating: 2
HaHa, That's pretty funny!

The point isn't the 'legitimate' users (read governments) won't be able to access the data in some other fashion, but that illegitimate users (read terrorists) will find useful information more easily.


RE: Area 51
By modestninja on 4/2/2006 1:40:14 AM , Rating: 2
I'll repeat what previous people have said. These images are readily available anyway. If a group is planning a terrorist attack you can be damn sure they'd get the best/most recent recon they could on whatever their target is. One thing they aren't is stupid (generally). They are generally pretty thorough in planning their attacks.


RE: Area 51
By notposting on 4/1/2006 5:49:40 PM , Rating: 2
Where is the flying saucer at Area 51 in Google Earth...not seeing one at all?


END THIS DISCRIMINATION!
By UzairH on 4/1/2006 3:16:30 PM , Rating: 2
Being a Pakistani, this tickles me... but no hard feelings, right Anand :)?

Seriously, a few months back, in Google Earth I went to some Pak airbases that I know of, and could clearly see the fighters and transports and identify them. However GE's coverage resolution varies with Pakistan, so while Karachi is high-res Islamabad is low-res. I would like to see high-res mapping of Islamabad so I can chart my commute routes :)




RE: END THIS DISCRIMINATION!
By Mitul89 on 4/1/2006 6:16:48 PM , Rating: 2
This is fucked up man. There are things that need to be kept secret or not included in these programs. Its rediculous how google can show Other countries air base but not White House...


RE: END THIS DISCRIMINATION!
By suryad on 4/1/2006 9:59:34 PM , Rating: 2
Meh those are Migs...nothing top secret about them...now if they were JSFs or F22 Raptors then yeah there would be a reason for clamoring.


RE: END THIS DISCRIMINATION!
By Griswold on 4/2/2006 3:18:42 PM , Rating: 3