GOOGLE
The U.S. Department of Defense banned Google from capturing images of military bases for its entertaining Street View facility on Google Maps, citing security risks. The ban came shortly after the detailed images of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas appeared on Google Maps and posed a threat to national security.
DOD has issued restrictions to Google, banning roving photographic vehicles that the internet giant uses to acquire Google Maps Street View images, from entering any U.S. military base. Complimenting its popular mapping technology, Web search giant Google Inc. in May launched "Street View", a unique Google Map service that provides users a street-level picture of downtown areas of various U.S. cities.
The new "Street View" feature in Google Maps enables users to view and navigate with a 360- degree view of the selected cities, including San Francisco area, New York, Las Vegas, Denver and Miami. Google claims that its street-level viewing feature places Google Map users at the road level, offering them a deeper and more detailed experience of the location than aerial images provide. But, the "Street View" feature came into question after the shocking discovery of intimate images of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
However, Google said it has removed the images after receiving a request from the military that said Sam Houston was not open to the public. "It is against Google's policy for a driver to seek access to a military base. Our policy is to stay on public roads, but a driver broke that policy," said Larry Yu, Google spokesman said. Meanwhile, a message has been sent to all Defense Department bases and installations around the country, asking officials not to allow the mapping Web site to take panoramic views inside the facilities.
"We don't have any issues regarding Google and their products, which are very useful tools," said Gary Ross, a public affairs officer for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the U.S. Northern Command. "But the Street View provides clear imagery of control points, barriers, headquarters and security facilities that pose a risk to our force-protection efforts." The restriction applies to all other companies that acquire images for similar purposes, Ross added. Source: http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20080308/u_s_military_imposes_ban_on_google_street_view-id-1018450.html Fort Sam Houston Google Images Seen By Al-Jazeera A national safety threat happened in the San Antonio area after detailed pictures were taken inside the gates of Fort Sam Houston and then put online.
A Google maps team went onto Fort Sam Houston and took pictures of buildings on the post without permission. The question now is could the Army post now be in danger after the pictures were put online for the world to see. Google maps "street view" provides a 360- degree view of the streets, as if you were standing on the street yourself. Officials at Fort Sam Houston told News 4 the Google team had permission to map the post, but not to take any photos. So, when Google's unauthorized pictures of the post ended up on their site, experts said they got into the wrong hands.
"Anyone in the world that has any interest in understanding what is going on," said terrorism prevention expert Dr. Saul Wilen. After making some calls, Dr. Wilen found out that within an hour, the N.S.A. knew. Within 2 hours, the F.B.I. was aware. Within 6 hours Israeli intelligence was looking at the layout of Fort Sam Houston. Dr. Wilen said Al-Jazeera and at least 4 other intelligence agencies overseas saw the unauthorized Google pictures. "And that's just preliminarily checking," Dr. Wilen said. Within 24 hours, the street view of Fort Sam Houston was taken down. But Dr. Wilen told News 4 this isn't the first time something like this has happened.
"Accidents of information happen," explained Dr. Wilen. Dr. Wilen said the next step for the post will be to keep security tight. "Because the information is out there, once it's out there it's out there, you either have to do something about it, or you have to then change direction," said Dr. Wilen. The Defense Department is now forbidding Google from coming onto any of its installments.
U.S. Military Imposes Ban on Google ‘Street View’ "It is against Google's policy for a driver to seek access to a military base. Our policy is to stay on public roads, but a driver broke that policy," “If you see something, say something.”
Note: No “Street View” images of NSDM or Presidio of Monterey or Ord Military Community are available on the Internet. Report attempts to photograph or map NSA-Monterey, POM or OMC to NSA-Monterey PD 656-2555/56 or POM PD, 242-7851/7852
There are six categories of information that may indicate pre-operational terrorist activity. Individuals
must know to observe and report the following:
(1) SPECIFIC THREATS. Report any threats received by any means that contain a specific time, location, or area for an attack against US forces. This may include any event or incident that indicates a potential threat to US forces, facilities or mission.
(2) SURVEILLANCE. Report any attempt to record information or use unusual means to monitor activities. Examples of surveillance include use of cameras (still or video), note taking, annotated maps or drawings, or use of binoculars.
(3) ELICITATION. Report any attempt to obtain security related information by personnel not having an appropriate clearance or need to know. Queries can be in many forms, including by mail, fax, telephone, or in person. Documents that are “For Official Use Only” such as recall or alert rosters fall into this category. Do not divulge this information to personnel except on a need to know basis.
(4) TESTS OF SECURITY. Report any attempt to measure security reaction times. Examples of security tests include penetration of physical security barriers, testing of base-entry procedures, and attempting to acquire duplicate uniforms, badges, or passes.
(5) REPETITIVE ACTIVITIES. Report any activity observed or repeated two or more times within a one-month period. Examples include activities by the same person or same vehicle, or multiple requests for the same information (classified or unclassified).
(6) SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES OR INTERESTS. Report any incident that does not fall in a specific category but is suspicious in nature. Examples include thefts of material that could be used to manufacture false identification cards or badges, missing documents, or evidence of tampering.
DO: OBSERVE AND REPORT:
• Unusual or suspicious activity or suspected surveillance
• Unusual questions or requests for information relating to capabilities, limitations or operational information
• Unusual vehicles operating in or around the installation
• Unusual phone calls, messages or emails
• Unusual contacts on or off post
• Unusual aerial activity near or around installation
• Any possible compromise of sensitive information
DO NOT:
• Discuss any aspect of military operations or planning
• Talk about military capabilities or limitations
• Discuss force protection measures, capabilities or posture
• Disclose any information related to unit deployments
REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IMMEDIATELY - YOUR CALL MAY SAVE LIVES!
Photography on Military Installations is Prohibited Per DoD instruction 5200.08, "security of
DoD installations and resources," 10 Dec 05, it is DoD policy that DoD installations, property, and personnel shall be protected and that applicable laws and regulations shall be enforced.
Commanders have the responsibility and authority (under 50 U.S. code 797) to enforce appropriate security measures to ensure the protection of DoD property and personnel assigned, attached, or subject to their command. Guidelines for such security measures are contained in DODI 5200.08 and DoD 5200.08-r, "physical security program," 9 Apr 07. Under 50 USC 797, it is a misdemeanor crime to violate defense property security regulations.
It is a crime under 18 USC 795 to photograph defense installations without first obtaining the permission of the commanding officer of the military installation. It is also a crime under 18 USC 797 to reproduce, publish, sell or give away any photograph, picture or graphic representation of a defense installation without first obtaining the permission of the commanding officer of the military installation. Finally, 18 USC 1382 makes it a crime to enter a military installation for any purpose prohibited by law or lawful regulation.
Call NSA-Monterey PD 656-2555/56 or POM PD, 242-7851/7852
FPCON Level: ALPHA
Terrorist threat level for the United States is: SIGNIFICANT
Homeland Security current threat level is: **YELLOW – ELEVATED (ORANGE FOR AVIATION)
Significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied:
• Increasing surveillance of critical locations.
• Coordinating emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions.
• Assessing further refinement of Protective Measures within the context of the current threat information.
• Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.
Current Threat Level Information
The Antiterrorism Newsletter is a product of the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, Antiterrorism Section, NSDM and Presidio of Monterey, CA. The Newsletter is a review of unclassified open intelligence and security articles intended for information purposes only and
not intended or implied to replace official DoD intelligence reports.
The assessment for NSDM and Presidio of Monterey and Ord Military Community is as follows, and subject to change:
Criminal threat to NSA-Monterey |
POM is LOW |
Gang threat to NSA-Monterey |
POM is LOW |
Direct protester threat to NSA-Monterey |
POM is LOW |
Subversive threat to NSA-Monterey |
POM is rated LOW |
The potential Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) threat to DLIFLC is assessed as |
HIGH |
The probability that a cyber attack would incapacitate NSA-M / DLIFLC mission is |
LOW |