Google Maps has disable live dealings data in Ukraine as another example of how access to technology and social meshwork have become a key battleground in Russia ’s encroachment of the nation .
Google confirmed the decision toReuters , exact they take the move to protect the refuge of local communities after confab with regional authorities in Ukraine . mapping navigation features are still working as per normal in the field , so users should still be capable to use the app to receive a location , but Google is block off alive information that prove how engaged roads , restaurants , shop , and other venues are at a current prison term .
This may seem like a minor move , but it ’s been show that this information could be used to tail the presence of armies or civilians in a warzone .
Dr Jeffrey Lewis , a professor at Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California , tweeted an imageshowing how Google Maps flagged up a “ traffic jam ” near the Russia - Ukraine boundary line on the morning of the encroachment at 3:15 am — not a time of the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. typically tie in with traffic jam in common circumstances . He mistrust this dealings pickle alerting was raise by locating information gathered from the smartphones of civilians attempting to flee the fight .
“ The traffic data is most likely NOT from soldiers carrying smartphones . alternatively , civilians are probably take gravel at roadblocks and @googlemaps is recording that , ” Dr Lewisconfirmed .
“ I would imagine this is the conclusion of our power to track movement using @googlemaps , as I do n’t think many civilian are run to be seek to access these road . We may see traffic jams , however , if the great unwashed endeavor to flee advancing Russian units , ” he impart .
There ’s no evidence yet that any side has apply this strategy , but it was surely a possibility .
On the other hand , it appear that Russia has attempted to curtail access to Twitter in a bid to stifle the flow of information coming out of the country . Steve Rosenberg , Moscow Correspondent for BBC News , says that Twitter is being " severely bound , " claiming his tweet took an remarkably long time to post .
Twitter has acknowledged the trouble and order it ’s officious working to insure their help stay dependable and accessible to assert the free stream of vital information come out of both Ukraine and Russia at this distressful clock time .
