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Satellite Pics Going Dark?

Posted by timothy on from the you-don't-need-to-know-about-the-secrecy dept.

isdale writes "Defense Tech reports the U.S. Gov't. is proposing to exempt satellite images from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The proposed exemption has already passed the Senate and awaits House/Senate conference committee this month. Not only does the exemption apply to Gov't. satellite images, but also any commercial satellite images the gov't buys and 'any... other product that is derived from such data.' That would include maps, reports, news footage, etc. This would heavily impact news gathering and probably the income of commercial satellite operators - who would only be able to sell to the U.S. Govt. And how big is the deficit already?" peter303 writes with a more optimistic story in USA Today " about building and launching a satellite for as little as $65K," as long as you can squeeze it into a 4 inch-cube.

12 of 369 comments (clear)

  1. Crinkle crinkle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Ready the Slashdot tinfoil hatters ...

    1. Re:Crinkle crinkle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Actually the commercial imagery vendors "blacked out" the imagery before giving it to the government and that's where the WMD claims came into play. We can't see that area so it has to have WMD's.

  2. Re:So just dont sell to the govt? by minion · · Score: 4, Funny

    It only seems to apply to images the government buys. Its like they legislating exclusivity agreements, as well as revoking FOIA on this data. If a company puts up a satellite that takes pictures and they dont sell the images to the govt, how would it affect them? I dont think it would.

    Noo. Way!!! Slashdot readers not reading the article and jumping to conclusions? Perhaps we need a "Jumping to Conclusions Mat"?

    --

    -- If we don't stand up for our rights, now, there will be no right to stand up for them later.
  3. Thomas Guides are now part of the Axis of Evil by ARRRLovin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Next thing you know, a typical GPS will have to be accurate to +/- 60m and the size of a fridge to fend off would be terrorists.

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    -Randy
  4. TimeCube! by autophile · · Score: 4, Funny
    peter303 writes with a more optimistic story in USA Today " about building and launching a satellite for as little as $65K,", as long as you can squeeze it into a 4 inch-cube.

    Of course! Must be Satellite in Cube! Dumbass! Even Time obey Cube! NASA is Stupid for not obey Cube design! Dumbass!

    --Rob

    --
    Towards the Singularity.
  5. Re:Blind Spot by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, like Anibus's big pyramid ship attacking the Earth! (see last episode of SG1 in August).

    --
    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  6. Re:End of another domestic market by myowntrueself · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Some /.'ers just love to smash anything the government does."

    Yeah its like shooting fish in a barrel!

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    In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  7. Re:Say goodbye to Xplanet? by Minwee · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, it was effected years ago. It wil not be affected either.

  8. Re:Alternate ways to achieve their goals. by uid8472 · · Score: 2, Funny

    We have always been at war with Oceania.

  9. Re:End of another domestic market by jcr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Some /.'ers just love to smash anything the government does.

    No, just the stupid and evil things it does.

    Oh, wait...

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  10. Re:Does this include terraserver, and more... by ticklemeozmo · · Score: 2, Funny

    I guess I better get what I can before I cant.

    Bob Thaves (creator of the 'Frank and Ernest' comic strip) had a bit to say on this issue.

    http://www.comics.com/comics/franknernest/archive/ images/franknernest2004081525307.jpg

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    When modding "Informative", please make sure it both has a source and IS actually informative.
  11. Re:Unreal Already in ACTION!!! by d474 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I filed for an FOIA for the latest satellite images of Hurricane Ivan. This is what they gave me.

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    Authority questions you. Return the favor.