The terrorists who attacked several locations in south Mumbai apparently used Google Earth to memorize digital satellite images of the city in order to find their targets and coordinate their attacks. Google is in the process of upgrading the application, but it is clear that privacy and national security advocates will reanimate the discussion whether Google provides too much satellite image data to civilians.

Mumbai terrorists reportedly were instructed to memorize satellite imagery of Mumbai streets displayed in Google Earth so that they could find their targets. Indian officials in charge of investigation discovered this fact during the questioning of the only captured suspect. The police also learned that the terrorists relied on satellite phones and GPS equipment to navigate to their targets. 179 people lost their lives in the attack on India's financial and entertainment capitol last Wednesday. At least 28 of the victims were foreigners, including six Americans and eight Israelis. The terrorists attacked a restaurant, a railway station, a residential complex and two hotels, one of them Taj Mahal, often desceribed as one of architectural wonders of the world.

It is not the first time that Google Earth was singled out as a potentially dangerous tool in the hands of terrorists. India's former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam warned in 2005 that unrestricted availability of detailed satellite imagery from services like Google Earth might help terrorists to carry out attacks. Security agencies in India, China and other countries have been concerned that Google Earth exposes their defense installations and unveil supposedly secret military installations. Media also reported that protesters in London used Google Earth to plan how to get to the rooftop of the Parliament building in London.

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