SAS base shows up on Google street view

[craigepo]

Fury as Google puts the SAS's secret base on Street View in 'very serious security breach' By Daily Mail Reporter

Military chiefs and MPs blasted internet giant Google today after its Street View service included detailed pictures of the headquarters of the SAS.

Internet users can peer around the entrance to Credenhill, Herefordshire, which has never before appeared on maps for security reasons.

The base is even marked as 'British SAS' on the website and offers users a detailed 180 degree view of the perimeter boundary.
MPs and military top brass have demanded Google removes the pictures, claiming it makes the SAS a target for terrorist attacks.

Google Street View captured detailed images of the SAS base in Hereford

Lib Dem Hereford MP Paul Keetch said: 'The footage is simply not acceptable during a time of perceived terrorism.

'There needs to be a certain degree of restraint shown by people like Google.

'I wouldn't want a terrorist to be inspired by these pictures and it would be appalling if any help at all was given to our enemies.

'We all know where the Palace of Westminister is, we all know where the SAS camp is, but the issue is if you're going into such detail in such a way that you can undermine the security of that building, that could be a problem.'
An Army insider added: 'Military chiefs have had concerns with Google Street View for some time.

'It is highly irresponsible for military bases, especially special forces, to be pictured on the internet.

'Google claims it blurs faces and number plates to avoid people being identified but one mistake could be very dangerous weapon for a terrorist.

'The question is, why risk a very serious security breach for the sake of having a picture on a website?'

Residents living near the base also expressed shock at the pictures.

One man, who did not want to be named but has links with the base, said: 'The SAS conducts operations where secrecy is absolutely vital to their success.

'It beggars belief that the base has been made vulnerable by having such detailed pictures published on the internet.

'Terrorists could potentially use their home computers to plot an attack capable of dire consequences on the base. That's frightening.'

The images - all taken within the last six months - show a military ambulance and a police car at the gates of the base along with three guards.

Separate satellite pictures on Google Earth also show the layout of the buildings and even makes and models of cars in the car park.

The MoD has never made the exact details of the base public but the location of the nearest village is available online.

Google yesterday defended the pictures and said they had no plans to take them off their site.

Spokeswoman Laura Scott said: 'One in five people already use Google Street View for house hunting and the scheme has previously launched in 20 countries without any breach of security issues.

'Google only takes images from public roads and this is no different to what anyone could see travelling down the road themselves, therefore there is no appreciable security risk.

'We're happy to discuss any concerns as they arise.'

An MoD spokesman said: 'We never confirm where any of our special forces are based.'




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ty-breach.html

[Paslode]

Last week a fireman friend of mine dropped by a job I was doing, I asked him where a address was. He pulled out his IPhone, input the address and gave me a 360 degree street view of the location.

Too much for too many and it's too easy.

[Richard]

Everyone knows where the 22nd SASR is located - Google satellite (but not street) views are available for the area.

Anybody ever look at the Google satellite views of the area to the SW of Pope - no street views there, either.

An MoD spokesman said: 'We never confirm where any of our special forces are based.'

Richard

[AF IDMT]

Originally Posted by craigepo

'Google only takes images from public roads and this is no different to what anyone could see travelling down the road themselves, therefore there is no appreciable security risk.

Granted I am not the brightest bulb in the box, but this statement shows just how little some people understand about our current environment and threat level. To me this is the same as saying, "well buying fertilizer is not illegal, and buying fuel is not illegal so what's the problem?" The problem is when all these "legal" items get put together into something very very bad. But what the hell do I know about anything. [/rant]

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by AF IDMT

To me this is the same as saying, "well buying fertilizer is not illegal, and buying fuel is not illegal so what's the problem?"

The problem is when all these "legal" items get put together into something very very bad.

But what the hell do I know about anything. [/rant]

I put google maps & street in a little different plane.

If you want to take a picture of the front gate of the SAS reg, you can. Just drive over, slow your car down, and click..

It is not the same as someone looking for the MASTER chemist book of UW expedient weapons formulas.

If you want to complain, complain about aerial photos & satellite images. Ones that show the layout and physical details of a structure or facility.

Google map does have a process where you can ask to have street views redacted and google earth has a process to redact satellite images.

They buy what the satellite image company(s) gives them. They don't own the satellite.

The images are sold to anyone with $$$$.

Google makes them available to the populace..

The other entities that purchase the images??
Who are they??
What do they use them for???
We will probably never know...

If you start limiting the availability of common information to the public,

You have started down the wrong road.

Because Big Brother will assume the dominate roll and you will become the Proles.

Information is not bad,, Bad people do bad things with good information,, Outlaw bad people!!



My $00.0002

[AF IDMT]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

If you start limiting the availability of common information to the public,

You have started down the wrong road.

Because Big Brother will assume the dominate roll and you will become the Proles.

Information is not bad,, Bad people do bad things with good information,, Outlaw bad people!!

I can see your point and agree. My concern is how easy we are (figure of speech, I have no idea who "we" are) making it for "bad people" to amass enough intel to plan an effective mission. You're correct, if someone wants to take a picture of the gate they can go do it. But if you actually had to be there to do it that would greatly reduce the pool of potential threats. I could be wrong. Now take that same information and put it on the net where all you have to do with click a button. Suddenly thousands of people with a cause can get at it, and maybe one of them comes up with a plan that works. Much higher chance of someone coming up with a plan that would work if only due to the fact you would have a great many more minds working on the same objective. I may be reading too much into this, or just straight barking up the wrong tree, but that's my uneducated opinion.

[echoes]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

They buy what the satellite image company(s) gives them. They don't own the satellite.

The images are sold to anyone with $$$$.

Google makes them available to the populace..

The other entities that purchase the images??
Who are they??
What do they use them for???
We will probably never know...

If you start limiting the availability of common information to the public,

You have started down the wrong road.

Because Big Brother will assume the dominate roll and you will become the Proles.

Information is not bad,, Bad people do bad things with good information,, Outlaw bad people!!

JJ,

Very true indeed!!!

ANyone here ever put their home address into the Google map street search? It shows in detail even what car is parked in your driveway.

Big Brother, in my car, my house, or my phone, can stay the hell out, IMVHO!!! Sad that this technology is accepted by so many, who do not understand the ramifications...IMVHO.