Calif. Politican Thinks Blurred Online Maps Would Deter Terrorists
Found on Slashdot on Tuesday, 03 March 2009
California Assemblyman Joel Anderson plans to introduce a bill to force Google Earth and similar services to blur images of so-called 'soft targets' like schools, hospitals, churches and government buildings to protect them from terrorists. 'All I'm trying to do is stop terrorists,' said Anderson. 'I don't want California to be helping map out future targets for terrorists.'
I have to admit that I was surprised. Not by the cunning plan of Joel Anderson, but by his stupidity. The "stop the terrorists" line is as bad as the "think of the children". Terrorists laugh now because they exactly achieved what they wanted: turn a country into a land of easily scared people. You just need to mention the T-word and almost everything goes through, even the dumbest plans.