Unless the government imposes new limits, one day everyone from ad companies to terrorist organizations will have access to satellite imagery tools previous reserved for spy agencies, writes Christopher Beam.
The context: Every year, commercially available satellite images are becoming sharper and taken more frequently. In 2008 there were 150 Earth observation satellites in orbit; now there are 768. Satellite companies don’t offer 24-hour real-time surveillance, but if the hype is to be believed, they’re getting close.
Why it matters: Even if satellites can’t recognize faces, those images combined with other data streams—GPS, security cameras, social-media posts—could pose a threat to privacy. One saving grace is that this kind of satellite tracking is very expensive, which should limit demand.
New laws needed: American privacy laws are vague when it comes to satellites, but that doesn’t mean the US government is powerless. It should step in now, before it’s too late. Read the full story here.
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