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Google Blurring Sensitive Map Information

Posted by kdawson on from the blurring-the-nukes dept.

Cyphoid writes "While viewing my school (the University of Massachusetts Lowell) with Google Maps, I noticed that a select portion of the campus was pixelated: the operational nuclear research facility on campus. Curious, I attempted to view the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It too was pixelated. What or who is compelling Google to smudge out these images selectively? Will all satellite images of facilities that the government deems 'sensitive' soon be subject to censoring?" Not surprisingly, the same areas are blurred in Google Earth. But how about images from satellites operated by other nations, such as SPOT or Sovinformsputnik?

7 of 411 comments (clear)

  1. Killer Blobs, Run! by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is *not* an editing artifact; Fuzzy Blob Bacteria (Fuziblobicia Bacterius) has been eating structures all over the world. I think it was even what ruined a banana and avacado that I had on the shelf. It even ate parts of my house. Termites, my ass.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  2. dont blame Google. by macadamia_harold · · Score: 5, Funny

    Curious, I attempted to view the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It too was pixelated.

    Have you ever been there? That's how it looks! I think they built it out of Lego.

    --
    Push Button, Receive Bacon
  3. Opting out my house by Kensai7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, can I drop a line to the Google Maps service asking them to fat-pixel my house? I have an epiphany toilet on the roof and I got to be sure I avoid awkward situations...

    --
    "Sum Ergo Cogito"
  4. Sensitive areas by Fuzzums · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I'm laying in my backyard I want to be sure Google well pixelate my sensitive areas too ;)

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    Privacy is terrorism.
  5. Re:You think the US is bad, try Japan. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 4, Funny

    "In Japan, just about anything "sensitive" gets pixelated."

    No kidding. That's why I stopped browsing Japanese porn.

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    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  6. Re:Great by martin-boundary · · Score: 3, Funny

    what exactly are we worried they're going to do with this information
    Think man! If they blow up the buildings, it'll show up on google earth like a big ball of flame and smoke! What a way to ruin a map!
  7. Re:Great by speculatrix · · Score: 3, Funny

    the difference between civil engineers and electronic engineers? the former built targets, the latter missiles.