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Comment by zelon88 | Hacker News Reader

Correct, but don't misunderestimate the power of knowledge.

Let's assume that some adversary is out there keeping track of these planes, and knows that they can scan Google maps for the RGB artifact by the engines to locate them reliably and programmatically.

Now Google maps becomes a repository for information that adversary may use to validate other information. Maybe this confirms the schedule for some training excersise. Maybe this particular B2 being in this location validates or invalidates other information about US troop strength abroad.

I was taught to always "assume your adversary is capable of going through your trash" and try to prepare my "trash" accordingly.

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The fatal premise is assuming Google Maps updates these areas frequently enough to provide useful info. The military security implications of Google Earth have existed since its launch and Google Maps by relation is no stranger to it. This is not new info and it hardly counts as "knowledge" much less with "power".

Reconnaissance satellite technology isn't US-exclusive (https://www.dw.com/en/modern-spy-satellites-in-an-age-of-spa..., Ctrl+F "Spy satellites in numbers") and those who have a meaningful need to track B-2 movements most likely have their own tools that are up to date, more accurate, and not bound by laws or regulations a US domiciled company is subjected to. What we see on Google Maps is almost guaranted to be 100% "trash" from a military intelligence perspective because actual valuable information has always been obtainable without Google Maps for entities who are capable and in need.

Similar to how the president brings his own toilet when doing foreign visits so enemies can't analyze his poop to see what medicines he's taking or what medical conditions he has.

Kim Jong Un does that, but I can't find record of any other world leader doing so. That takes a special level of paranoia.

Can't find a source on the president doing that at the moment, but Stalin examined the poop of visiting leaders:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35427926

That would be some Gattaca level paranoia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gattaca

Spare a thought for the presidential aide responsible for safeguarding POTUS's poop, so that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. I'd hate to be the person assigned to "doodie duty".

Any adversary that the USA cared about already can get this info from their own satellites. They aren't using Google Maps.

Impressive level of paranoia from a citizen of a country with 800 bases around the world. Mad propz for your mass media.

So the US should have no defensive doctrine at all because we have so many spoils of war?

Whatever country you are in would do the same if it could.

Honestly with the known ties between the US government and Google, if I were a state-level adversary I'd probably be wondering why Google wasn't scrubbing the plane programmatically, rather than assuming that I had caught someone in a 'Gotcha!' moment.

In other words; this google maps link has been circulating around the net for the past week and a half at least -- seemingly originating from either a Discord or the chans; if I were some foreign intelligence analyst I'd definitely be considering the premise that these photos have been so widespread and uncensored simply as an online show-of-force.

( personal anecdote : as an amateur aviation enthusiast/plane-watcher, the B2, as majestic as she is, isn't particularly rare to catch in the skies -- and nowhere near 'secret' )

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