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22 Mar 2010
Google has been forced by the government to remove various images taken by its Street View cameras because they breached the Official Secrets Act and could have aided terrorists, according to a report in the Mail on Sunday.
The paper said that secret locations included Special Boat Service and Special Air Service (SAS) bases, a Government atomic weapons research centre, MI5 headquarters and GCHQ near Milton Keynes.
It is believed that Google has removed images if the locations concerned had signs up saying that photography was banned. The SAS base, for example, is still identifiable, although certain images appear to be no longer accessible.
Google stopped short of admitting that it had been forced to remove certain images, although it stated that, while its drivers are trained not to take photographs where it is prohibited by law to do so, if mistakes are made "we will act quickly to remove the images".
"Google Street View is made up of images from public roads so it's to be expected that buildings that anyone can see walking down the street may appear, " the firm said.
"We're unaware of any official concerns being raised about security, but are of course happy to discuss any issues as they arise."
The news comes after an MP branded Google "irresponsible" after Street View cameras identified the entrance to the secret base of the SAS.
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Do you agree?
Sad Google backed down
Google has taken photos of the streets that are accessible to the public. It's ridiculous to think they pose a security threat! Like the previous commenter said, these are places visible by the public. They are not secret bases in mountain sides or caves , so I don't see what the fuss is about!
Posted by: Locksley McPherson Jnr 23 Mar 2010
you guys are a bunch of idiots
"the buildings exist anyone who lives near knows what they are google should leave them up." ever heard of punctuation?
Posted by: a 23 Mar 2010
Banned Pictures
You only have to look at the countless books, articles and the Internet to know that it is in Credenhill, or so I or we believe, unless they been spinning a line over these years, and terrorists would probably think twice about attacking the headquarters of the SAS.
Posted by: Lee 23 Mar 2010
Street View
Any passerby with good memory can see the entrance to the SAS base at Credenhill and sketch it later. Street View is nothing more than what is is called. Being a photographic record doesnt make it some kind of subversive device.
Posted by: bernie 23 Mar 2010
why
the buildings exist anyone who lives near knows what they are google should leave them up.
Posted by: mike allen 22 Mar 2010
Stupid
What a stupid thing to do. Are we so PC these days, that common sense no longer prevails. I'm disappointed with Google.
Posted by: Vivienne 22 Mar 2010