British protest Google Earth threat

LONDON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Terrorists could use Google Earth to attack Britain's most crucial defense bases,

Terrorists and "rogue state" intelligence agencies could be making use of free internet satellite images that leave sensitive British military facilities exposed, British defence experts told the Daily Telegraph.

The warnings follow the launch of Google Earth, a free-to-use Web site which uses pictures from a variety of satellites around the world, the Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

But while the U.S.-based company has obscured sensitive U.S. locations such as the White House, British military bases and other sensitive sites have not been censored, the Daily Telegraph said.

Vulnerable targets include General Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham, the National Security Agency's most important partner in monitoring global electronic communications, the Faslane submarine base on the River Clyde in Scotland and Fairford airfield, Gloucestershire, used by U-2 spy planes.

"This is an artilleryman's dream," said Patrick Mercer, shadow minister for homeland security. "Faslane and Selafield ( a major British nuclear reactor complex) all have no-fly zones -- and for good reason. I see no reason why the government should not speak to Google and make sure details of national security do not appear."

"By constantly accessing a satellite image, rogue states can monitor any changes in a particularly sensitive site. This is valuable information," David Baker, an independent space expert with Jane's, the military and intelligence specialist publisher, told the Daily Telegraph.

"We are aware of these images, but any plans to protect sensitive sites would take into account these pictures," said a spokesman for the Home Office, Britain's interior ministry.

A spokesman for Google UK told the paper: "We take any concerns about Google Earth and Google Maps seriously. But Google Earth was built from information that is already available from both commercial and public sources."