Article Entry
11 Mar 2009
Comments:14
And Now a Word From the California Assemblyman Who Wants to Blur Online Maps
Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief, General
As you all probably saw, we hosted our most lively discussion on got geoint? surrounding the news of the proposed legislation aimed at blurring images of schools, churches, houses, etc in digital maps. First up, we want to thank everyone who commented on that post (27 and counting!). And, we also want to point out that most of you were against the legislation. Well, we all collectively made our voices clear. Now, it is time to hear from the Assemblyman who proposed this legislation. And wait until you hear what he has to say…
Granting a Q&A to the venerable tech news site CNET, California Assemblyman, Joel Anderson, went into detail justifying the legislation and even hinted that the wording of the legislation may change. However, one question stood out:
Q: So have you been in touch with software companies to talk about your bill?
Anderson: Microsoft spent two hours with me last week. I want to hone it down and work out something that works for them as well as for me. I also spoke with the lobbyist from Google. My door is open. I do want to work with them in good faith. The bill will be cleaned up and I have a pretty good idea of where it should go, but as we got through the vetting process, I’m open to what my colleagues have to say or what Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Mapquest have to say. But the concept of the bill will stay intact. This is the trend that’s going around the world. let’s not wait until an American has to die in order to do the right thing.
Our friends at the Directions Magazine APB blog also covered this today. So, what do you all think of his argument? He is certainly using some powerful language (i.e. “let’s not wait until an American has to die…”) to justify the bill. Do you all think these are post 9/11 scare tactics that have been used before?
We would like to hear from you all again on this topic!
Tags: Blurring Maps, California Legislation, Google Earth, Joel Anderson, Mapping, MapQuest, Microsoft
Here is what I will be releasing in the next issue of The Harlow Report – GIS
California Bill Would Blur Online Mapping Programs
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342397,00.asp
Editor’s comment: Have you heard about this idiocy? according to the article, a California lawmaker wants to blur out key images in virtual mapping programs. Is he nuts? Does he think that a terroist will not blow up a school just because Google Map does not have a clear image? You should worry, because if ge0-challanged lawmakers get involved in GIS, you will see restrictions on data sharing that will cripple the growth of our industry. So, here is what I suppose the lawmaker thinks will happen: “Achmed, go to California and blow up some schools!” “Sorry, Osama, I cannot see the images on Google Maps, how can I blow up the schools without clear images?” “What if I gave you an address, GPS coordinates and a photo from a yearbook?” “Still, Osama, I am not sure. Without clear on-line images, I am afraid our cause is doomed.” Here is an excerpt from the article — then go read the whole thing and scream.
A California lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require all virtual mapping programs to blur out schools, places of worship, government or medical buildings or face hefty fines and possible jail time.
Assemblyman Joel Anderson, a Republican, crafted the bill after it was revealed that terrorists in Israel and Mumbai used popular mapping programs to help plot their attacks.
“All I’m trying to do is stop terrorists,” Anderson told the AP. “I don’t want California to be helping map out future targets for terrorists.”
According to the bill text, photographs and images of schools, places of worship, government or medical buildings must be blurred. Street-level imagery would also be banned. Companies that violated the provisions of the bill would face fines of up to $250,000 for every day the illegal imagery was available online.
Top-level executives and board members at these companies, meanwhile, who knowingly let these images remain online could face up to three years in jail.
From Linked In:
“Re: his comment – “This is the trend that’s going around the world.” As I noted in a post in another group, NY restricted access to it’s aerial photography immediately after 9-11, until they figured out it was easier for the terrorists to find the sensitive targets by looking for the “blank spots” on the map. Wouldn’t this do the same thing? Make it easier to find a target by looking for the “blurry spots” on the map? It may be the trend that’s going around the world, but it took 8 years to reach California, and by the time it got there, NY had already abandoned it. It must have gone around the world by way of Russia and China. Re: his comment – “let’s not wait until an American has to die in order to do the right thing.” I started typing about a dozen different responses to that line, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort, it’s such a ridiculous statement. Re: his green tie – LOFLOL”
More comments from Linked-In:
“Hardly an unexpected position from a Republican representing the San Diego area, but largely irrelevant. As many have observed, terrorists don’t need GIS to blow up a building or bridge: street maps and road signs provide directions. In any event, multiple archives of imagery will remain online and available regardless of intent.”
Another comment from Linked-In:
“The concept would make it harder to reduce insurance premiums through more cost-effective data collection and validation. Who would be in charge of identifying such properties? Can the government supply [and maintain] good addresses for all its office spaces? Which schools, just public, or private too, home with private day care? Many “places of worhship” don’t have steeples, are those not worthy of “protection”? Why would a big miami condo be less worthy of “protection” than a church with 50 people inside, once a week for a hour? No street level imagery – So the postcard business, chamber of commerce brochures, all are terrorist tools? Is the on-line feed from traffic cam used by the TV stations or the amusement parks a violation of privacy? He has jurisdiction over the sale or Canadian and Russian satellite imagery, or just the portals with US domicile? So the only thing he can really do push more high tech companies off shore. I heard this crazy story that some California legislator got his knickers in a twist because the image of his house was captured on a date he was out of town. The driveway was full of cars for a party he didn’t know about. He couldn’t possibly be smart enough to tie his shoes and walk to his mailbox and actually still believe that terrorist would care, or be inconvenienced by “blurred images”. He must have some other agenda that he’s not willing to disclose. Is this the next generation of greenmail /extortion to get high tech vendors to “pay” attention to campaign issues? I would respectfully submit that our legislators could find more important issues to debate than this.”
Wow- what dumb thinking. I am amazed at how frequently people we have elected are so stupid. This would be useless at preventing any terrorism, at best it might make the bad guys have to go see their target site(s)in person. It would hurt alot of american businesses though, perhaps the congressman is the real terrorist here.
Mike
Senator what’s his name is just trying to make a name for himself. If his first priority was reducing the number of casualties from terrorist activities he would get involved in something that is more effective, blurring images of online maps won’t do it, there are too many ways to access the same information in other forms. The more face time he gets with representatives of innovative, responsible companies like google and microsoft, the more important he will feel and the more he will want to “work” with people who are actually doing something, unlike what he does — propose stupid ideas and continue to support them after they have been discredited. You guys rock, please continue the good job (of previous posts) shooting down his ill-conceived thoughts and don’t deign to acknowledge him. Although he represents republicans, the majority of people in “his” county voted for Obama, so one can only hope that they are more clear sighted with 21st century thinking instead of the kind of 19th century thinking he represents.
By the way, it reminds me of when Barbara Streisand wanted to blur the image of her estate that could be seen on the public website (http://www.californiacoastline.org/). The website hosts oblique aerial images of every linear foot of the california coast. The suit she filed was thrown out in court in 2003. People became aware that it was her estate because of the rucus she made.
One mans tool is anothers weapon so the saga continues…
While we are blurring the imagery lets cut the handles off all of our hammers, lets ban screw drivers and remove all the tires from our cars.
This will save lives too. Then lets make sure all the stores that sell those ugly green ties get blurred so that some dim witted assemblyman doesn’t choke himself while getting dressed in the morning……LOL
From Linked-In:
“Strong language deserves a response in kind. Let Assemblymember Joel Anderson be known for his open-door willingness to negotiate geospatial censorship. Simply substitute print or broadcast media in place of web map services and see how palatable his suggestions would seem.”
This bill clearly shows the ignorance of lawmakers when it comes to geospatial technology. There are boatloads of other sources of public data which could be easily linked to the ‘blurred’ out areas for quick reference in a database, such as online phonebooks, downloadable GIS point databases with attribute information from government agencies and universities, etc.
Giving terrorists maps of areas that highlight the places we don’t want them to go is completely insane. All this would do is hinder productivity for honest Americans, and further restrict the freedom of ordinary people. This is completely shortsighted – why not just email Bin Laden with a list of sensitive lat/longs along with directions to get there?
“People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.” – Ben Franklin
“Since the Assemblyman seems to use Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Mapquest as his expert adivsors (per his CNET interview) in crafting his Bill, how do we let Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Mapquest know about our/public opinion on the matter? Any suggestions? Maybe we should post our comments on CNET, not here.”
Working in mainland China in the early ’90s I found a lack of maps to be a real hindrance to property selection, but it was explained to me that maps had served the interests of invaders in the past and so were not freely available. I always thought, “how lucky we are in the U.S. to live in a society where the free exchange of information is not feared.” Now…I only hope the importance of this freedom is not forgotten and allowed to be restricted by fear mongers like this nimrod.
I’m afraid he’s onto me. I frequently use GEOINT tools to recon schools and parks before my kid’s soccer games. It helps with directions and helps to know what the parking situation looks like before arriving. Hey, why don’t we do a 12 month experiment? Let’s blur the homes of all assemblymen and see how that contributes to safety. My guess—–zero.
From Linked-In:
“Hollywood blows it out of proportion oftentimes, and yet if they knew what is really going on, the movies would be even more outlandish. I like watching films such as The Bourne series because it’s familiar enough to be comfortable, yet outlandish enough to be entertaining.
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