Google Earth Provides Information For Both Sides of Iraqi Security

The Iraq League’s use of Google Earth demonstrates the dual nature of technology/software use.

As the communal bloodshed has worsened, some Iraqis have set up advice websites to help others avoid the death squads.

One tip – on the Iraq League site, one of the best known – is for people to draw up maps of their local area using Google Earth’s detailed imagery of Baghdad so they can work out escape routes and routes to block.

It’s another example of the central role technology plays in the conflict – with the widespread use of mobile phones, satellite television as well as the internet – by all sides and for many purposes.

The flip side:

Terrorists attacking British bases in Basra are using aerial footage displayed by the Google Earth internet tool to pinpoint their attacks, say Army intelligence sources.

Documents seized during raids on the homes of insurgents last week uncovered print-outs from photographs taken from Google.

Technology is not inherently good or bad, how people use it determines that. Many times people look to the IT security folks to make software ‘good’ or prevent ‘bad’ (think DRM) – both things that can’t really be done.