Google denies Ukrainian reports it unblurred satellite Maps ...

Satellite imagery of Lipetsk Air Base from Google Maps. Google says it hasn't made changes to how it censors satellite imagery of Russia, ... Skiptomaincontent clock menu more-arrow no yes Tech Video Amazon Apple Facebook Google Microsoft Samsung Tesla AI Cars Cybersecurity Mobile Policy Privacy Scooters AllTech Reviews Phones Laptops Headphones Cameras Tablets Smartwatches Speakers Drones Accessories BuyingGuides How-tos Deals MorefromVergeReviews Science Video Space NASA SpaceX Health Energy Environment AllScience Creators YouTube Instagram Adobe Kickstarter Tumblr ArtClub Cameras Photography What’sinyourbag? AllCreators Entertainment Film TV Games Fortnite GameofThrones Books Comics Music AllEntertainment Video Features Podcasts Newsletters MerchStore ✕ Filedunder: Google Policy Tech GoogledeniesUkrainianreportsitunblurredsatelliteMapsimageryinRussia GoogleMapshasincludeddetailedsatelliteimageryofRussianmilitarybasesforawhilenow By MitchellClark Apr18,2022,4:42pmEDT Sharethisstory SharethisonFacebook SharethisonTwitter Share Allsharingoptions Share Allsharingoptionsfor: GoogledeniesUkrainianreportsitunblurredsatelliteMapsimageryinRussia Linkedin Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email SatelliteimageryofLipetskAirBasefromGoogleMaps. Googlesaysithasn’tmadechangestohowitcensorssatelliteimageryofRussia,contrarytowidelycirculatedclaimsonTwitterthatit“openedaccesstoRussia’smilitaryandstrategicfacilities.” EarlyMondaymorning,Twitteraccount@ArmedForcesUkr(whichisunverifiedbuthasbeencitedseveraltimesbytheofficialUkrainianMinistryofDefenceaccount)tweetedasetofimagesthatappeartoshowmilitaryequipment.Thetweetedmessagetranslatesroughlyto:“noweveryonecanseeavarietyofRussianlaunchers,intercontinentalballisticmissilemines,commandpostsandsecretlandfillswitharesolutionofabout0.5metersperpixel.” TheposthasbeencitedbynewsorganizationslikeTheMoscowTimes,andanEnglishtranslationofthetweethasbeensharedthousandsoftimes. ⚡️GOOGLEMAPSВІДКРИВДОСТУПДОВІЙСЬКОВИХТАСТРАТЕГІЧНИХОБ’ЄКТІВРОСІЇ.Теперкоженможепобачитирізноманітніросійськіпусковіустановки,шахтиміжконтинентальнихбалістичнихракет,командніпунктитасекретніполігонизроздільноюздатністюблизькодо0,5метранапіксель.pic.twitter.com/i75wR8Efwo—ArmedForces(@ArmedForcesUkr)April18,2022 TheVergewasabletoconfirmthatatleastoneoftheimagesfromthetweetisavailableonGoogleMaps,anditdoesdepictanactiveRussianmilitarysite.WewerealsoabletofindotherexamplesofGoogleMapsshowingotherbasesinthecountry. However,thecompanysaysthisisn’tnew.InanemailtoTheVerge,GooglespokespersonGenevieveParksaid,“Wehaven’tmadeanyblurringchangestooursatelliteimageryinRussia.”Whilethecirculatingimagesarelikelylegitimate,theywereavailableonGoogleMapslongbeforetheconflictinUkraine. GooglehastakenotheractionsagainstRussia Itisn’tunheardofforGoogletobluritsmapsofpotentiallysensitiveareas,includingmilitarylocations.Forexample,GoogleMapspixelatestheimagesoftheFrenchAirForce’sairbase705.However,thereareplentyofothermilitaryinstallationsthatarepubliclyviewable:GoogleMapsletsyouseesimilarlydetailedsatelliteimageryoftheUS’sNellisAirForceBaseandeventheinfamousArea51. PixelatedimageryfromGoogleMapsoftheBaseaérienne705ToursinFrance. ImagesofplanesfromGoogleMapsatNellisAirForceBaseinNevada. It’salsoworthnotingthatthemilitariesofmajorcountrieshaveaccesstosatelliteimagerythatisn’tsubjecttoanymodificationsfromGoogle. GooglehastakensomeactionsagainstRussiasincethecountryinvadedUkraine.Thecompanyhaspausedadsalesinthecountry,cutoffaccesstoGooglePayforsomeRussianusersinaccordancewithsanctions,andbannedRussianstatemediaaccountsfromrunningadsontheirYouTubechannels.TheRussiangovernmenthasthreatenedtofinethecompanybecauseYouTubehasvideoscontaining“misinformation”aboutitsinvasion. NextUpIn Policy Signupforthe newsletter VergeDeals SubscribetogetthebestVerge-approvedtechdealsoftheweek. Justonemorething! PleaseconfirmyoursubscriptiontoVergeDealsviatheverificationemailwejustsentyou. Email(required) Bysubmittingyouremail,youagreetoourTermsandPrivacyNotice.Youcanoptoutatanytime.ThissiteisprotectedbyreCAPTCHAandtheGooglePrivacyPolicyandTermsofServiceapply. Subscribe Sharethisstory Twitter Facebook