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| Pentagon bans Google map-makers | Pentagon bans Google map-makers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The US defence department has banned the giant internet search engine Google from filming inside and making detailed studies of US military bases. | The US defence department has banned the giant internet search engine Google from filming inside and making detailed studies of US military bases. |
| Close-up, ground-level imagery of US military sites posed a "potential threat" to security, it said. | Close-up, ground-level imagery of US military sites posed a "potential threat" to security, it said. |
| The move follows the discovery of images of the Fort Sam Houston army base in Texas on Google Maps. | The move follows the discovery of images of the Fort Sam Houston army base in Texas on Google Maps. |
| A Google spokesman said that where the US military had expressed concerns, images had been removed. | A Google spokesman said that where the US military had expressed concerns, images had been removed. |
| Until now, Google teams have entered military bases with permission to conduct mapping. | Until now, Google teams have entered military bases with permission to conduct mapping. |
| While [Google Earth] is a very useful tool, there has to be a balance Gary RossUS military spokesman | While [Google Earth] is a very useful tool, there has to be a balance Gary RossUS military spokesman |
| But they have now been banned from filming and conducting detailed studies of bases, following the discovery of detailed, three-dimensional panoramas online - and in particular, views of the Texan base. | But they have now been banned from filming and conducting detailed studies of bases, following the discovery of detailed, three-dimensional panoramas online - and in particular, views of the Texan base. |
| "Images include 360-degree views of the covered area to include access control points, barriers, headquarters, facilities and community areas," said the defence department in a statement quoted by AFP news agency. | "Images include 360-degree views of the covered area to include access control points, barriers, headquarters, facilities and community areas," said the defence department in a statement quoted by AFP news agency. |
| It said such detailed mapping could pose a threat. | It said such detailed mapping could pose a threat. |
| Individuals and governments | Individuals and governments |
| Military officials are currently studying how many such detailed studies are available - though it may not be able to order their removal if images are taken from public streets. | Military officials are currently studying how many such detailed studies are available - though it may not be able to order their removal if images are taken from public streets. |
| Among the popular mapping services offered by Google are Street View, which allows web users to "drive" along virtual US landscapes with ground-level views, and Google Earth, which offers detailed satellite and 3D images of locations around the world. | Among the popular mapping services offered by Google are Street View, which allows web users to "drive" along virtual US landscapes with ground-level views, and Google Earth, which offers detailed satellite and 3D images of locations around the world. |
| Both have provoked complaints - from individuals depicted in the images and from governments concerned that satellite images could compromise security. | Both have provoked complaints - from individuals depicted in the images and from governments concerned that satellite images could compromise security. |
| "We don't have a problem with Google Earth," Gary Ross, a spokesman for the US Northern Command, told AFP. | "We don't have a problem with Google Earth," Gary Ross, a spokesman for the US Northern Command, told AFP. |
| But "while it is a very useful tool, there has to be a balance", he added. | But "while it is a very useful tool, there has to be a balance", he added. |