Google, Apple “military-grade spy planes” under pressure

[Derrick]

Google, Apple “military-grade spy planes” under scrutiny

Google Inc and Apple Inc are attracting renewed scrutiny of their practices due to privacy concerns – this time for flying “military-grade spy planes” over major U.S. cities as they race to shore up their rival 3D mapping services...

[b@nD]

Google Inc and Apple Inc are attracting renewed scrutiny of their practices due to privacy concerns –
this time for flying “military-grade spy planes” over major U.S. cities

According to who ?
Why not show us theses planes and provide the names of the companies that operate them ?

[Bern]

Since when is high quality now "military grade"???

[ThatOtherGuy]

Geez, this sounds like a movie!

[ToxicBunny]

Military grade?.. really?

This is just a Senator trying to make a name for himself if you ask me....

[Arthur]

Makes one worry about the military.

[Paul Hjul]

Since when is high quality now "military grade"???

Um military grade most certainly does not mean high quality. Military grade means overpriced, clunky but gets the job done.

I'd like military grade internet with that: right a 128kbs circuit coming your way sir ...

[droplet]

if you have something to hide, you will demand privacy...

[JStrike]

if you have something to hide, you will demand privacy...

No, some of us just demand privacy. Whether we have something to hide or not is irrelevant.
Your argument is Argument from Personal Incredulity (Once of the logical fallacies)

[Bern]

I'd like military grade internet with that: right a 128kbs circuit coming your way sir ...

That would be a major upgrade for our military... They have some of the worst IP tech ever. I really feel sorry for those guys wanting real time info from CT to be sent to Pretoria over their old links, not sure if they have upgraded properly yet, but can't see it having been done by now.

[Paul Hjul]

That would be a major upgrade for our military... They have some of the worst IP tech ever. I really feel sorry for those guys wanting real time info from CT to be sent to Pretoria over their old links, not sure if they have upgraded properly yet, but can't see it having been done by now.

I suspect that SANDF largely don't use their own systems on many things (you need to get an email from one base to another unless regulations provide otherwise chances are you'll use your own smartphone) but ja I am going with a "high speed" setup for most (not just SA) military networks. The point is that a lot of the setups are on "old links" and are frequently old technology wireless and encryption is a priority over speed and so on. There was a time when the communication capabilities exceeded what was in the ordinary commercial world but that isn't the case anymore. As I said "128kbs circuit" there are advantages to slower circuit connections (don't write off ISDN entirely quite yet) which make them a military capability. It would be great for SANDF to actually build a National Defence Communications and Research Network but this would probably amount to a 100Mbs network rather than multi Gbs network.

A well built system from 25 years ago cost a ton 25 years ago and was fast 25 years ago it is now slow but still going.