Google Earth could assist international terrorism

‘Google Earth,’ launched earlier this year, uses overlapping satellite photos to simulate the experience of flying from the stratosphere down to any spot on Earth. Some are so good it is possible to see details of homes or even garden sheds. The Age reports that Parliamentarians Frans Weekers and Aleid Wolfson expressed concern that terrorists could use the program to study government buildings or nuclear reactors. They called on the Dutch Government to consider taking measures against Google. Justice Ministry spokesman Wibbe Alkema said the government was still crafting its response. Google spokesperson Catherine Betts said the benefits of the software ‘far outweigh any negatives from potential abuse.’ Full The Age report

In other crime-related news, a former America Online (AOL) software engineer has been sentenced to a year and three months in prison for stealing 92 million screen names and e-mail addresses and selling them to spammers who sent out up to seven billion unsolicited e-mails. The crimes cost AOL at least $400 000. Wired News reports that Jason Smathers told US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein that his actions were ‘very wrong’. The judge credited the West Virginia resident for his contrition and efforts to help the government before he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. The stolen list of 92 million AOL addresses included multiple addresses used by each of AOL\'s estimated 30 million customers. It is believed to be still circulating among spammers. Full Wired News report