Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#401

Post by [deleted] » Tue, May 18, 2021, 2:53 AM UTC

betterunix2 wrote: post #363

jussij wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Israel can get all the detailed imagery it needs by just launching a reconnaissance aircraft or drone. So on that basis I would say it only stops the Palestinians from getting imagery of the area. Now considering the fact Palestine only has rockets and not missiles, I doubt that imagery is of much value to them. Call me cynical, but I suspect the more important reason to keep these images blurred might be to stop the…

I have learned to demand a very high standard of evidence for conspiracy theories, so...let's see the evidence that there is some conspiracy between Google and Israel to hide what is happening there. For that matter, I am not even sure what you think Israel is hiding -- Netanyahu is not at all shy about settlements, the IDF calls people up to tell them when a bomb is going to be dropped on their building, and there a…

[deleted]

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#402

Post by asdfasgasdgasdg » Tue, May 18, 2021, 2:54 AM UTC

MyKneeGrows wrote: post #378

jussij wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Israel can get all the detailed imagery it needs by just launching a reconnaissance aircraft or drone. So on that basis I would say it only stops the Palestinians from getting imagery of the area. Now considering the fact Palestine only has rockets and not missiles, I doubt that imagery is of much value to them. Call me cynical, but I suspect the more important reason to keep these images blurred might be to stop the…

It's why they target news agencies such as AP. Now you can't get pictures on the ground. So we all have to rely on is low resolution maps to judge damage. "Security measures", or so they say. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

I'm not seeing any shortage of pictures from the ground. I mean, I agree that targeting news agencies would be a step you would take if you wanted to prevent images from the ground but you would have to be far more sweeping in your approach. If the goal is to prevent news images from making their way out of Palestine this may be the most abject policy failure the world has ever witnessed.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#403

Post by forgithubs » Tue, May 18, 2021, 2:55 AM UTC

On the same note, why is Azeria labs offices blurred on Google Maps ? Is it a special feature ? Or just that you need to know people at Google ?

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#404

Post by nashashmi » Tue, May 18, 2021, 2:58 AM UTC

slg wrote: post #324

nashashmi wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UN recognizes Palestine as do many other countries. The US was motivated not to recognize it because of the Israeli diaspora in America.

The reasoning behind the government's decision is irrelevant here. Google is a company headquartered in the US. Going against the official policy of the US government is a more politicalized move than going with the status quo. Side note, you should be careful using Israeli and Jewish as interchangeable terms. There is no such thing as an "Israeli diaspora".

Jews and Israeli are distinct. Maybe diaspora is incorrect word, but those who call Israel their home country and reside in the US are of the diaspora of Israel.

Google has headquarters in many countries including Israel. They use various Sources to create maps. And some happen to show Palestine as a separate country. Using one source over another is not a politicized move. But since the recognition of Palestine is recent, ignoring a UN resolution is politicized, more than following an archaic policy of a home country.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#405

Post by [deleted] » Tue, May 18, 2021, 3:08 AM UTC

geofft wrote: post #371

woodpanel wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since this question revolves around words and their effect… "most populated" > "crammed" > "jailed" > "the new warsaw ghetto" there must be a word that describes your question of why : The word you're looking for also describes what's enabling the cognitive dissonance of putting Gaza in the same category as a Singapur, a Tokio or Hong Kong without blinking: Economic powerhouses that draw talent from developing and de…

What's the phrasing you'd prefer? "Children were once again murdered in cold blood in Gaza, a metropolis that could be just like Singapore, Tokyo, or Hong Kong given its dense population and prime geographic location, were it not under constant military oppression from a country whose illegal nuclear weapons program is more successful than that of North Korea"? I think a lot of people would find that uncomfortably pa…

[deleted]

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#406

Post by sien » Tue, May 18, 2021, 3:08 AM UTC

bostonvaulter2 wrote: post #322

nashashmi wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UN recognizes Palestine as do many other countries. The US was motivated not to recognize it because of the Israeli diaspora in America.

The list of states that recognize Palestine was very surprising to me. Basically it seems like only the "first-world" nations that do not recognize Palestine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_recognition_of_t...

Thanks for that link. It's remarkable.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#407

Post by throwhn331 » Tue, May 18, 2021, 3:08 AM UTC

markdown wrote: post #391

MichaelMoser123 wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Now considering the fact Palestine only has rockets and not missiles, I doubt that imagery is of much value to them. A high resolution image would be very useful to anyone who is planning a terror attack with suicide bombers, for example.

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Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#408

Post by nashashmi » Tue, May 18, 2021, 3:09 AM UTC

betterunix2 wrote: post #368

nashashmi wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UN recognizes Palestine as do many other countries. The US was motivated not to recognize it because of the Israeli diaspora in America.

The United States worked with Israel for years, and has continued to some degree even now, to establish a legitimate and functional Palestinian state. The reason the US does not recognize Palestine is that right now there is not a fully formed Palestinian government. The PA never fully exerted its influence or enforced its own laws in the West Bank and has completely lost control of Gaza to a terrorist organization.…

Conspiracy? None whatsoever. Support for Israel is public and apparent even from politicians and lobbyists. This has guided US votes and vetoes in the UN. This is not a “narrative” nor a hidden story.

As far as PA exerting control, Israel has actively worked to keep the PA weak and frowned to recognize any sovereignty, even to this day keeping occupation forces inside and protecting illegal settlements.

> The reason the US does not recognize Palestine is that right now there is not a fully formed Palestinian government.

This is a funny narrative. Afghanistan does not not have a full government but that does not mean they are not recognized.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#409

Post by jussij » Tue, May 18, 2021, 3:10 AM UTC

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #402

MyKneeGrows wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's why they target news agencies such as AP. Now you can't get pictures on the ground. So we all have to rely on is low resolution maps to judge damage. "Security measures", or so they say. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

I'm not seeing any shortage of pictures from the ground. I mean, I agree that targeting news agencies would be a step you would take if you wanted to prevent images from the ground but you would have to be far more sweeping in your approach. If the goal is to prevent news images from making their way out of Palestine this may be the most abject policy failure the world has ever witnessed.

The facts remain; Israel did bomb the offices of Al Jazeera and The Associated Press.

That action looks a lot like Israel targeting news agencies and the two news agencies involved have both raised their concerns about that unprecedented action by Israel.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#410

Post by markdown » Tue, May 18, 2021, 3:11 AM UTC

Zhenya wrote: post #395

markdown wrote: post #391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

"slaughter wholesale" I think we'll need a reference for that. As far as I can tell, warning civilians to evacuate buildings is QUITE the opposite of wholesale slaughter.

> "slaughter wholesale"

Almost 200 dead in a few days. If you don't consider that slaughter than I urge you to ask yourself "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?"

> As far as I can tell, warning civilians to evacuate buildings is QUITE the opposite of wholesale slaughter.

Shooting missiles into densely populated areas where half the population is children and their deaths are guaranteed isn't the opposite of wholesale slaughter. That's guaranteed wholesale slaughter.