SMILE- YOUR ON CANDID CAMERA

SMILE- YOU’RE ON CANDID CAMERA

Its long been known that the government and more particularly the alphabet soup agencies (C.I.A, F.B.I., D.E.A and other assorted spooks) have had the use of advanced satellite picture technology, for some time now. Up until now it’s not been a hot topic of conversation, because quite frankly, the exact capabilities of the system, has been a matter of national security.

I don’t believe that many of our adversaries are still clueless about our ability to “zoom” in on their activities (that’s why many have resorted back to cave dwelling). We have aerial surveillance in the form of high flying aircraft, hand launched mini planes, and even pilot less drones. But the real workhorses are the new satellites in 24 hour geosynchronous orbit above the earth.

Most of this technology was developed by the government for military purposes, however they also rent time on a commercial satellites. Increasingly, the gap has been bridged to additional commercial use. (although, the government restricts the resolution and timeliness of the photo’s that can be used commercially). Most notable among these would be the GeoEye/Google earth satellite.

There are tons of legitimate uses for these hi-res pictures from space including mapping, exploration, storm tracking and research. We can measure ocean temperatures, crop growth, and even ice pack movements from space. The current resolution available for commercial use is 61 mm. Also, industry is prohibited from making recent or current photos available as well as photos of sensitive government and military areas, bases, etc. However the government user can purportedly zoom in to 10mm or less, making facial identification possible from the depth of space. Its said they can read a newspaper from orbit (might be cheaper to drop 50 cents in the newsbox) We’ve come a long way since the U-2 spy planes we once flew over Russia and the relatively crude photo intelligence available to us during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

My feeling is, like any great technology, this giant Kodak in the sky arrangement has the potential for misuse. It also seems like we always find a way to use new technology in some type of military application. As more and more government agencies get access to this technology I can see the IRS and local dog catcher getting in on the act. (Hey Mr, PoorItalianboy..we have irrefutable space photo evidence that your Doberman just took a dump on the city sidewalk. We are sending you a bill...Have a nice day).

Ok, I know you think I’m exaggerating, but where does this Peeping Tom stuff stop. Google Maps is also using this know how to add unprecedented detail to their road maps. They can layer road maps with satellite images and now add street level photos. I typed in my home address the other day and was able to zoom in on a rather current image of my own house. The image magnification and clarity was so advanced that I could not only see my garage door open, but also look inside. (so, if any of you readers wanted to see me pump’in out sets on my bowflex that is possible…its also know as an invasion of privacy). With the definition of: what a reasonable man would expect the general public not to see).

All kidding aside, I think we may be at the threshold of some major issues here. Has technology and the government’s need to know excerpted the citizen right for privacy ? Also, with this billion dollar technology available to the average Joe,(and the average Taliban Joe), at the click of a mouse, are we providing hi-tech intel and aid to those that might wish to harm us ? An even bigger question might be: “Just because we have a technology available to us, does that make its use moral, correct, or acceptable ?

My assumption would be that newer, more advanced and possibly more intrusive and invasive technologies are on the horizon. Does our very development of these new breakthroughs, authorize and condone our use of them ? If so, where do we stop ? To be honest with you, I thought our purpose for going into space was to look out, not to look in. Talk about the saying “ You can run, but you can’t hide”.
Smile, It’s a small world….. after all.

P.I.B.