A Place to Find Out for Yourself About War

Freedom of information, the internet, international law, and free markets all converge on the issue of satellite imagery and its use – especially when the images are of military bases. Commercial satellite firms can now produce images that pinpoint a car on the ground – photo quality that only governments used to possess. And these firms are not only in the U.S., but are also cropping up in Cyprus and France. Firms in India, Italy, and Germany will soon launch satellites of their own. When internet sites like Globalsecurity.org can publish satellite images of American military bases in Qatar online, the issue at stake is one of national security. Although the U.S. government has formally allowed commercial firms in the U.S. the right to take these photos, the government retains the right to prevent certain images from making it to the public, known as “shutter control.” But when other countries can also produce such images, the U.S. has no recourse to prevent photo essays of American military bases. Talks of international stipulations and economic or diplomatic pressure have been discussed to prevent the free-flow of sensitive information. And one U.S. general has recommended “lethal enforcement”, or destroying the satellite, if faced with non-compliance by other states or firms. Until international laws are established and enforced that prevent wide distribution of satellite images, all governments will have to worry about who has and controls sensitive information. Still, free markets and freedom of information laws are roadblocks to effective security. In an era of the free-flow of information thanks to the World Wide Web, any internet surfer can play at being a CIA analyst. - YaleGlobal