Thursday, April 5. 2007

Update: House Committee Question Google's Change to NO Imagery

Update: Computerworld reports that Google's Senior Policy Council (I that means the person is a lawyer) sent a letter(pdf) on Monday 4/2 back to Rep. Brad Miller who launched the query. It states that Google was not contacted by any "government entity" regarding the change in the imagery. Further, the company was looking to set up a meeting with the committee.

---Original post 3/31----

The AP reports that "The House Committee on Science and Technology's subcommittee on investigations and oversight on Friday asked Google Inc. Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt to explain why his company is using the outdated imagery."

How is this a matter for the federal government? Part of request from is to inform the committee if any local or federal agency contacted Google regarding the switch which occured on Google Maps. The AP article suggests the city, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey as sample organizations. I think that's a fair question.

But this is a company, albeit a public one, why does the governemnt take special interest? "Edith Holleman, staff counsel for the House subcommittee, said it would be useful to understand how Google acquires and manages its imagery because 'people see Google and other Internet engines and it's almost like the official word.'" She is of course correct, but it's not official! In fact, again, it's a public company! If the governement ran Google or contracted with Google to provide this service, it could have some say, but it doesn't! It does support World Wind (an open source sort of Google Earth) which has images that more closely match current conditions.

Posted by Adena Schutzberg in Google at 08:40 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0) |

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Well, I'm not an expert. But it seems to me, govt can almost always find a way to butt-in.

In this case, I could see them argue it falls under interstate commerce. What about fraud? Using older imagery to give a certain impression.

Personally, doesn't the govt have bigger and better things to do.

KoS

#1 KoS on 2007-03-31 12:17 (Reply)

Regardless of what Ms. Holleman says her interest is, the government does contract to use Google Earth supplied imagery when it purchases licenses for Google Earth Professional or Google Earth Enterprise.

Understanding the drawbacks and unknowns associated with this undocumented imagery (dates in particular, but a lack of metadata on geographic data should be an issue with everyone !) does seem to be a valid concern for people with oversight over government activities that make use of Google Earth Professional and Enterprise, whether those activities are simply deciding whether or where to expend more public funds or if the activities involve the protection of life and public/private property.

Perhaps, if this was an issue from the Google side, Google could stop marketing and licensing the products they are supplying to government agencies.

#2 Android on 2007-03-31 13:44 (Reply)

Ugh.

Better the House Committee looked into why the US spends so freakin' little on mapping sciences that support FEMA and its allies than nettling around with a public company. It's their business, their choice, and until the Feds start underwriting Google's operations (ha!) that dog won't hunt.

Makes for good press though, don't it?

I think this bespeaks more about the woeful understanding of technology in the Committee than some nefarious plot by a cabal of Googlenes.

As for anyone using Google Enterprise, or Google Pro...read the fine print. They can do what they want; you accede to that when you "sign" their EULA.

Perhaps this wouldn't be such an issue if the folks on the Hill could see imagery as readily from the Feds as they can in Google. Since they can't (now where is that link on GOS? I know it's here somewhere...did they take it down or did they just move the page? Was something EVER shown there?) the 20-something staffer who can't tell the difference between public and government sources lobs an email up the pipe and we end up with a House investigation.

Ugh.

#3 Archie Belaney on 2007-04-01 16:59 (Reply)

Damn, are those baying hounds I hear?
(http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/about-new-orleans-imagery-in-google.html)

Unfortunately, they were thrown off the scent by fresh bird and missed the real prey of the hunt - imagery metadata.

#4 Android on 2007-04-03 04:00 (Reply)

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