Google Maps - Singapore restricted zones
I was looking for an address in Singapore’s Streetdirectory.com, and was surprised to see many portions of the satellite view were hidden by a message that says:
Their maps are supplied by Google.
But this is strange because over at Google Maps, there are no such restrictions and you can see the whole island.
Significance? This is a Mindef (Ministry of Defence) facility. The Singapore government has put a lid on Streetdirectory.com showing those areas, but you can see those areas so easily elsewhere. Seems to me like a rather ineffective way to hide - in fact, it draws attention to those places.
Footnote: I modified this post (by removing some images before publishing) after reading this blog on the same issue where the authors of Streetdirectory.com write:
With regards to why the images are blocked on Streetdirectory.com. Yes, thats the requirement from our local authorities here.
Google is not a Singapore based company but we are. So we have to play by the rules even though it does seems funny and weird.
I suggest that u guys dont publish anything that have sensitive information. Law is law
And that, folks, is how self-censorship works in Singapore.
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Mark said,
April 22, 2007 at 9:15 am
Hey - you better don’t publish those pictures or they’ll come and get you…
It’s surprising that the gahment hasn’t required Google to restrict those places as well. Or maybe the asked and were told where to go.
Such a waste of the gahment’s time.
Steven said,
May 1, 2007 at 6:14 am
It sounds like China’s attempts to restrict information!
Eventually, everyone gets the information, so what’s the point?