Slashgeo

Slashdot discuss a story about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security which will start sharing U.S. spy satellite data with law enforcement and other customers. Their summary: "...one of [DHS]'s first objectives will be to use the network to enhance border security, determine how best to secure critical infrastructure and help emergency responders after natural disasters. Sometime next year, officials will examine how the satellites can aid federal and local law-enforcement agencies, covering both criminal and civil law... DHS officials say the program has been granted a budget by Congress and has the approval of the relevant committees in both chambers... Unlike electronic eavesdropping, which is subject to legislative and some judicial control, this use of spy satellites is largely uncharted territory... [A CDT spokesman said] 'Not only is the surveillance they are contemplating intrusive and omnipresent, it's also invisible. And that's what makes this so dangerous." All Points Blog adds a link the NPR articles on the subject.

A colleague of mines sent word that the New York Times is currently running an article about the Spy program in the US. To quote my colleague : "It's about the spy program in the US and how the next gen of satellites is not going well. Its a really good read from the ny times." It's a pretty lengthy read, so head on over there for the full detail.

Slashdot discuss a U.S. defunct spy satellite falling off orbit. There is also a follow-up story with speculations on that it is a radar satellite named USA 193. While not directly related to remote sensing satellites that us professionals can use, I learned much from the comments, including about adaptive optics and satellites using nuclear power instead of solar power (and rather unrelated, that coal combustion is more radioactive than nuclear waste). The Slashdot summary for the followup: ""Intelligent speculation has led one knowledgeable observer to believe the satellite recently announced to have failed is a radar satellite named USA 193. According to an earlier story on the satellite: 'The experimental L-21 classified satellite, built for the National Reconnaissance Office at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, was launched successfully on Dec. 14 [2006] but has been out of touch since reaching its low-earth orbit.'" The ArmsControlWonk story leads off with what purports to be a photo from the ground of USA 193." See also related stories below for other spy satellites stories.

APB links to a long and interesting article named "Googling Security: Mapping, Directions, and Imagery". From the article: "So what is the harm in using these services? Well, it turns out, a lot. You face significant risks from both your use of these services and the content they contain. This article analyzes the information you disclose when using mapping and imagery services, including how your use of these tools discloses locations of your home, employer, family and friends, travel plans, and strategic intentions, and discusses how data mining can easily link seemingly disparate groups of people based on their interest in common locations. It also covers the risks inherent in the content itself, including camera-equipped cars capturing continuous streams of high-quality street-level photographs, collaborative analysis of satellite imagery, and your inability to trust the veracity of the images themselves." Several previous related stories copied below.

Slashdot discuss a story about the potential large-scale phone location snooping in the U.S. Their summary: "An anonymous reader recommends a speculative blog entry by Chris Soghoian up on CNet. Soghoian makes a convincing case that the NSA could be using loopholes in the law to gather real-time location information on the mobile phones of millions of people. There is no hard evidence that this is happening, but the blog post sheds light on the dense undergrowth of companies populating the wireless space that could be easy pickings for a National Security Letter with a gag order attached. [From the CNET articlle:] "While these household names of the telecom industry [AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint] almost certainly helped the government to illegally snoop on their customers, statements by a number of legal experts suggest that collaboration with the NSA may run far deeper into the wireless phone industry. With over 3,000 wireless companies operating in the United States, the majority of industry-aided snooping likely occurs under the radar, with the dirty work being handled by companies that most consumers have never heard of."" Reminds me of this story earlier this year.

From the All Points Blog : "We have been contacted by the military," Google spokesman Larry Yu said. "In those instances where they (the U.S military) have expressed concerns about the imagery, we have accommodated their requests."... The images that worry the Pentagon include views of bases, including security at the entrances to those installations. "It actually shows where all the guards are. It shows how the barriers go up and down. It shows how to get in and out of buildings," said Renuart, commander of U.S. Northern Command.

For more information and a link to the original article, please visit the All Points Blog.
Update: 03/07 21:51 GMT by S :Slashdot users also discuss the issue. I dare remind our users that anyone can Google to remove specific StreetView imagery.

A direct followup of this previous story, Slashdot discuss a stiry named " Homeland Security's Space-Based Spying Goes Live". Their summary: "While America's attention has shifted to the economic meltdown and the presidential race between corporate favorites John McCain and Barack Obama, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Applications Office (NAO) "will proceed with the first phase of a controversial satellite-surveillance program, even though an independent review found the department hasn't yet ensured the program will comply with privacy laws." NAO will coordinate how domestic law enforcement and "disaster relief" agencies such as FEMA use satellite imagery intelligence (IMINT) generated by U.S. spy satellites. Based on available evidence, hard to come by since these programs are classified "above top secret," the technological power of these military assets are truly terrifying."