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Rank3182

Idea#259

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Making Data More Accessible »

Limit government use of classified satellite data

Why Is This Idea Important?: Any benefit of access to classified imagery at federal departments and agencies like USDA, EPA and HHS is offset by the negative consequences of incorporating the secrecy apparatus that must accompany classified information. Over time, "public" agencies will be transformed into intelligence agencies. Use of classified data is particularly problematic in terms of the proposed use for disaster mapping at DHS (and virtually all other federal agencies). The public needs to know the extent of structure damage, the location of flooded roads and of damaged bridges following a disaster. But, if DHS uses classified imagery as the base for its disaster maps, that information would not be available except to government officials with clearances. It would not be available even to emergency responders, like fire, police and medical personnel, if they do not have clearances. Another negative consequence is the additional cost of security clearances for the thousands of employees that potentially would handle classified map data - an unjustified burden on US taxpayers.

The Problem: In 2007, the Bush administration decided to allow more federal agencies to use data from intelligence satellites, i.e., classified data. Nearly all federal agencies these days use satellite imagery, but non-classified imagery is adequate to meet most non-intel needs based on my experience as a GIS specialist at a federal homeland security agency. To oversee the distribution of that data, the Bush administration proposed to establish a new government entity that included no external oversight of potential privacy violations resulting from the new policy.

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Submitted by Unsubscribed User 2 years ago

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Comments (3)

  1. Unsubscribed User said:

    I should have added that if use of classified satellite imagery is vital (as alleged) to so many government programs, it should not be classified in the first place!

    2 years ago
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  2. Robert David STEELE Vivas said:

    Classified imagery is code for secret contracts with preferred contractors who pay no penalty for being incompetent (Lockheed and SAIC come to mind). See Open Source Agency for a concept intended to put 75% of the secret world out of business.

    2 years ago
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  3. bhuberty said:

    In some cases, unclassified imagery is better. During the Red River flood, flood maps produced for FEMA using classified imagery was as accurate as compared to a Canadian flood map using their Radarsat satellite. In addition, the FEMA maps did not cover the whole flood zone where the Canadian Radarsat imagery did!

    2 years ago
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