Taiwan’s most sensitive military sites have been revealed publicly by Google Earth Accidentally

Google Earth

The sites offer an impressive glimpse of missiles and launchers.

An update to the online platform of Google Earth has accidentally led to the exposure of secret military locations in Taiwan.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, the update, which included new three-dimensional renditions of Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Taichung, publicly revealed some of Taiwan’s most sensitive military sites.

A military base, which is reportedly a Patriot missile facility, is crystal clear at the time of writing and no blurring has been implemented to prevent the public from viewing the site at leisure.

The exact location, layout of the military base, building structures and missile launchers locations can be seen.
The Post reports that the National Security Bureau in Taiwan and the Military Intelligence Bureau on the new maps has also become visible.

Taiwanese Defense Minister Yen Te-fa said a task force was set up to work with Google for national security purposes. Google is being asked to blur the sites while the military is working to improve the camouflage on the ground.

The exposure of technologically sensitive military locations is not only applicable to maps. In August 2018, the Pentagon banned active US military personnel from using devices and applications that use GPS, such as fitness trackers and mobile applications, because they were afraid that these technologies could “present enemies with information about military operations.”

Mark Funk
Mark Funk is an experienced information security specialist who works with enterprises to mature and improve their enterprise security programs. Previously, he worked as a security news reporter.