We can all sit here and criticize google for what they are NOT doing (failure to highlight human rights abuses in China, mistakes made over Katrina), but why aren't we praising them for actually taking a stand on this issue? Shouldn't we show companies that corporate responsibility pays off in the long run - that as consumers, we will support companies who speak out and use their might and power to highlight human rights atrocities? I think we need to bear in mind that while we need to be critical, we also need to know when to recognize when progress is being made and to applaud that progress.

Lindsay , bERKELEY , CA

What next Google? Next you'll have markings in a state that the US deems a terrorist nation? The fact that Google decided to revert to pre Katrina images and then due to "criticism" changed those images speaks for itself. So here we are with a huge corporate that dictates what is fact...even when its fiction? Great going Google!

Renu, Philadelphia, PA

Interesting that amongst all the plaudits for Google's altruism, respect for human rights and freedom of information, there's only one mention of their active support of censorship of data and the persecution of dissidents in China.

Andrew, Copthorne, UK

A picture speaks a thousand words, or in the case of the UN a trillion.

shane, Coeur d Alene, Idaho,

Another small step for google, another giant leap for mankind.

To the hacks who criticise the information revolution pouring out from hotspots of knowledge like Silicon Valley - go on, you do better.

I'd like to see you develop a multi-faceted online repository for satellite feeds with a realtime function for individuals 5000miles away to update the international community on a genocidal civil war that even a decade ago would have passed by largely ignored by the developed world.

Mark, Woking, UK

Markandrew Terry, Trollhättan: The US government knew of the existence of the death camps years before the first was liberated. A time when a handful of rich Americans were profiteering from dealing with the third reich and lobbying for the US not to become involved. WW2 was referred to as "The European problem" until 1941.

The US entered the war because of Pearl Harbour, not because of the Holocaust. Even after they were involved, the government ignored pleas to blow up camps in order to disrupt the genocide. To keep the record straight, the British government were just as aware and did equally nothing.

Dan, Hampton, UK

as others have said, this new genesis of google isn't something which seems natural to them and moves away for being information providers. Wouldn't it make sense to instead develop a layer abstraction for their google earth software and give users at least the option to view these layers (maybe call this one The World Police Plugin) and pass management of information in that layer off to people who might be qualified to maintain and provide detail (for example : the UN has denied calling the darfur bloodbath Genocide, but google for some reason thinks this is fine to mix terminology and mis-information).

I know, the baby steps of evolution, but if Google are allowed to wander down this path alone and as they see fit without reliable cross-reference or accountability then aren't they just walking towards blind self righteousness? It gets them in the news, yes, but from a bigger perspective they're being incredibly unhelpful, if not 'Evil(tm)'.

michael, brisbane, australia

Providing an accurate visual record can only help the truth to come out- whatever it may be.
Perhaps the same should be done for Baghdad and the rest of Iraq, so that the citizens of the US and coalition countries can see for themselves what is going on, rather that having to rely on the heavily censored media reports that we currently get presently.

Catarina, Sydney, Australia

Cheap PR for Google does not matter at all, if indeed it does draw more global attention to the plight of Darfur. Quite often, many of our deeds are done for our own recognition, but as a by-product, they also end up helping someone in need or bringing attention to a dire situation.

Few deeds in this world are completely altruistic, but we should just be glad that they are done !

Josie, Nashville,

I agree with Steve Jones of the University of Illinois at Chicago; Google seems to be overstepping its bounds with this. While I agree the Darfur region is in dire need of world attention, I am not sure that I like Google dictating what is important and what is not.

The question that arises in my mind is what happens if the definition of terrorism changes and the world gov't decides that churces, universities, gay pride events, etc., become "terrorist activities" and Google agrees? What then? Would it be as acceptable for them to publish high resolution photos of your church, university or city? Call me paranoid, but I don't trust those in power to use it wisely. Let's just hope Google thinks very seriously about what they choose to "highlight" next.

"Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint; the more restraint on others to keep off from us, the more liberty we have."

JerSchae, Billings,

"Similar atrocities such as the Holocaust, brought the attention of United States Military. Unfortunately, United States will only respond to bad intelligence before sending in the military."

So, your point is that the US Military involvment in WWII was the result of bad intel?

Job, darfur,

Where I can agree with Joe of Mississippi in that the US often ignores domestic problems and instead focuses on other countries, I think that the crisis in Darfur should be a more global issue, one that many countries are involved in stopping. Unfortunately President Omar al-Bashir has been avoiding United Nations aid in any form that would allow troops into his country, which, while it invokes concerns over national soverignty, I believe that at the point where the government is sponsoring a group which is causing mass genoicide, the country is subject to losing those rights, and that all signatories of either/both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention should feel morally compelled to provide assistance.
That said, I give my kudos to Google - I have the utmost respect for corporations that take an interest in pursuits other than profit, and increased global awareness of the crisis is necessary if it is ever to be stopped.

Phil, Pittsford, New York, USA

Go Go Google !
Knowledge is power. The Sudanese government can now be held accountable. Hopefully they will think twice before destroying even more peoples lives.

I agree it brings up serious issues but perhaps Google can team up with Amnesty Intl. or other rights group to certify the accuracy.

J Matta, Irvine, USA / CA

While what is going on in the Darfur region of Sudan is horrible and wrong, the decision of Google Earth to highlight their maps of the area in question with excess information as opposed to other regions of the earth is a two edged sword. On the one hand, to do what you can to expose and highlight injustice and keep it visible is good in any way, large or small. On the other hand, using a tool with a global reach like Google Earth and picking and choosing areas to call attention to can be called biased simply because of the innumerable conflicts, ethnic cleansings and genocide that are not highlighted. Damned if you do, damned if you don't... unfortunately or fortunately, everyone has their own cause, personal or global and each feels it is the only cause that is worthwhile. They are ALL worthwhile, they are all in need of visibility and we all need to change to make it better.

Lori Halliday, Mesa, USA

Markandrew Terry in Trollhattan, Sweden... you sound very confused and biased yourself. In your second sentence you say the US military helped with the Holocaust in WW2, and then in your next sentence you state that the US military only responds to bad intelligence. Which is it? Does the Swedish military respond to anything? It sure didn't in WW2, but Sweden did, I believe supply parts and materials for the Nazi war effort...it's called appeasement. The Shia in Iraq repeatedly asked for help from the US while oppressed under Saddam Hussein but we did not provide help it until 2003. No, we should not have gone there for most of the reasons we did, but likewise, the Iraqis need to do more for themselves if they want more freedom.
British Statesman Edmund Burke put it very well when he said “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” . At least the United States tries.

Lori Halliday, Mesa, USA

Thanks, Mr. Terry, I haven't seen Sweden's vast military machine doing anything to stop the genocide, either. Oh wait, I forgot - it's our job to clean up all of the world's messes, except when it isn't.

Jennifer, St. Louis, Missouri

Kudos to Google. We can't have too many watchdogs. I don't care if they want to enter the news arena or not.

Bob Flagg, Reno, NV

This is easy and cheap PR for Google. That's all.

Duncan Polliner, Choatville,

Shedding light on darkness raises the consciousness of all. As long as the icons represent facts I don't believe they are showing bias. These icons could be used to highlight areas of concern all around the world. Having links to other maps is a good idea as well.

See Level, Santa Barbara,

While the whole world 'can watch', there is little change.

Robert, Toledo, OH

It is great that a private company brings attention to these atrocities. Similar atrocities such as the Holocaust, brought the attention of United States Military. Unfortunately, United States will only respond to bad intelligence before sending in the military.

Markandrew Terry, Trollhättan, Sweden

And Google does this after recently removing its current images of New Orleans and reverting to pre-Katrina images. Amazingly typical. Ignore the plight of Blacks here in our own country--where we could actually do something helpful--and claim morality by focusing attention halfway around the globe. Grow up white America.

Joe, Jackson, Mississippi

This is welcome, but it tells us nothing new - we know what has been happening there, and those in power know what has been happening. Also - for those people who commented above... Google is an excellent service provider and I use it daily myself, but don't give them too much credit - look how they have agreed to censor their search results in China.

A, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Hope Google keeps cataloguing and organising unbiased information!!!!!
Thank You!!!

Sano, Boston, MA

Thank you for using your technology the way we originally planned for technology to be used: To benefit mankind. We are too uninformed now about important relevant issues..Too overinformed about drek!! please keep your humanity and be one of the few to take a stand!

Connie, Solvang, ca

I see Jones' point, since providing links to information about specific villages does take Google away from cataloguing, but using GEarth to show what it looks like is legitimately cataloguing.

And in that, Google isn't doing anything controversial.

nancy, new york,

Thank you Google for stepping up.

We said "never again" in 1945 and guess what... it is happening again.

Jim, Indiana, USA

trillions of dollars wasted in Africa.

thesuperstar, Miami, USA

The questions is, will it do any good?

Todd, Dallas, TX

Humm..
Google!! grow up!!!
No kid down the street will belive that you changed the images as a regular process!!

And why do you want to intrude into some other nation to help america's cause of playing big brother for the universe??

JusticeHuman, Newyork,

This excellent to know that a corporation with power to change the world for the better, actually is.

Andrew M Reed, Columbia, SC

Why no link to the relevant map?

zeno, Glasgow,

I am so proud of your services slanted to inform the people. We should have the news,unbiased or non-political! Thank you

Sue Ross, Lovelady, Texas

I applaud Google's effort. I don't think any organization or individual should have to endure any criticism, whether political or not, when they are supporting humanitarian causes or highlighting information about atrocities, violations of human rights, or situations where aid would be helpful.

Mark, Lansing, MI