in the interest of national security

The US Defense Department has banned Google Earth from filming and documenting the detailed geography of the inside of the US Military bases. Google Earth has launched “Street View”, a mapping service that allows web users to virtually drive along landscapes with ground level views of on-site locations. It offers a detailed satellite & 3D images of locations around the world. It allows you to see the left and the rights and the ups and downs of a location virtually.

The action of the Pentagon has been triggered by the discovery of the detailed, three-dimensional panaromas of the Fort Sam Houston army base in Texas. The site provided for the 360-views of the base including access control points, barriers, headquarters, facilities and community areas of the army facility. Obviously, this detailed mapping indeed poses a potential threat to national security coz you would be giving relevant information on a silver platter. Security of the military base is compromised, and it seems like an open invitation for anyone who’s an adversary of the US to attack.

Aside from national security reasons, privacy concerns have also been raised by individuals who were depicted in the images.

The ban on the continued action of Google Earth is a perfect example of the government invoking national security. The Army is part of the country’s defense and exposure of information regarding the location would definitely compromise the security not only of the base itself but also of the country in effect. This is a proper matter of national interest and security,
Now, will our government (executive in particular) be able to tell what issues should be kept privileged in view of national security or interest? It seems that Malacanang is invoking the “Executive Privilege” left and right whenever there is an inquiry regarding their transactions. Even if no national security or national interest is involved, they hide under the cloak of that privilege, even if the matters being protected are their own self interest. Tsk.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7282635.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/6229534.stm