Security concern over earth viewer software using satellite photo service

Abstract

Earth Viewer Software that enables users to view detailed satellite images of buildings or street-level panoramas of major roads and neighborhoods, have recently engendered controversy. Users can view and print high-resolution images (with up to 10 kilometers of zoom) of almost all parts of the world. So one can not only locate the route to any place on earth but also have a look at how it actually appears from above. The fact that terrorists or rival nations could get their hands on detailed high-resolution images of military bases, nuclear facilities and other restricted areas seems to be the biggest fear. In this paper we are proposing one Global Access Policy which can pose some restriction on this type of Earth Viewer Software and privacy of the secrets places can be preserved. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.