Google signed a deal with GeoEye to gain exclusive rights to their new satellite for Google Maps. It’s due to be launched into orbit later this week, on a rocket branded with the Google logo.
This bugs the hell out of me. In a submission to court back in July, Google argued that there can be no expectation of privacy in today’s world. “Today’s satellite image technology means that even in today’s desert, complete privacy does not exist.”
They used the above as a defence in a recent suit by home-owners whose properties had allegedly been trespassed on and photographed by Google vans for Google Maps Street View.
Now for the sake of full disclosure I’ll take this opportunity to say that I am an editor for MSN. Let it be clear though that I use Google’s services frequently and have nothing against the company professionally. This is just b*tching on a personal level.
Clearing that up, I have to say how freaked out I am by the fact that a company, which has stated it does not think there can be an expectation of privacy in today’s world, managed to get itself exclusive rights to the most advanced global imaging satellite soon to be in orbit. And for the same exact service that put the company in court for invading people’s privacy. What the hell?!
Who knew the world dominating AI envisioned in The Matrix and Terminator would end up being a distant descendant of AdSense.
Anyway, if you’d like to read more about Big G’s satellite check out the following articles:
CNET News: Google to buy GeoEye satellite imagery
Slashdot: “Google Satellite” to be launched this week