Google's controversial decision to replace imagery on its satellite with images of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina decimated the region has drawn serious ire from members of the House of
Representatives. The House Committee on Science and Technology's subcommittee for investigations and oversight on Friday asked CEO Eric Schmidt to explain why Google decided to revert to using the
outdated imagery showing packed parking lots, full marinas, and unaffected houses.
"Google's use of old imagery appears to be doing the victims of Hurricane Katrina a great injustice by
airbrushing history," subcommittee chairman Brad Miller, D-North Carolina, wrote in a letter to Schmidt. The move was similarly met by criticism from locals, who fear the Web giant is trying to gloss
over the area's slow recovery process.
After the hurricane struck New Orleans, Google's satellite images were in high demand among those affected by the storm--providing victims, exiles and
family members with visual images detailing the extent of the destruction to certain areas. Many see the pristine images of a calm New Orleans as a slap in the face to its citizens. So the big
question Google now has to address is why. Did the city ask Google to change its images? Who at Google gave the order? When did this happen exactly?
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