There are places even Google Maps can’t go
By Hilary Powell
As we research the possibilities of Google Maps for our LoJo needs, the team realizes that it’s important to know the limitations of such technology.
In establishing our goals for locative storytelling, we must take into account that there are some places kept private, even in the virtual world.
For example, just last month, Google pulled Pentagon pictures of U.S. military bases from Google Maps. According to the BBC News, the military denied access to the company because “close-up, ground-level imagery of US military sites posed a ‘potential threat’ to security.”
In early April, reports surfaced in the blogosphere that the Singapore government is pondering a ban on Google Earth for fear the images infringe on the Singapore Land Authority copyright.
To ensure that the company protects individual privacy, Google has taken a few precautions. According to CNet News:
Now anyone can alert the company and have an image of a license plate or a recognizable face removed, not just the owner of the face or car, says Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience at Google.
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