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blue bits. red rocks.
Saturday 31 March 2007

Here’s what I heard: A “National Security Letter” was sent to Google insisting that no post-Katrina maps be made available. As is common knowledge, it is a federal crime for those who receive a National Security Letter to reveal its existence. Thus the blah blah blah from Google about using the best data available. It’s clearly because the Administration doesn’t want the terrible condition of the city to be so widely and directly seen, and then used as a political issue against them. But the National Security Letter was issued on the basis that details about the compromised condition of the city could be used for smuggling (empty buildings etc…), a terrorist staging-ground, etc… It’s a flimsy argument to make it a national security issue, but there’s practically no check on these letters at all… rayhoffman

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