PatHMV: ronbo… Looks like Google Maps of Israel went dark because Hamas was using the service to help with its targeting. Apparently, Google did the right thing and took down the maps of Israel.

That seems a bit strange— surely Google Maps was not the one and only source of detailed maps of Israel on the internet?

The transponders tehy are picking up are legally required on large vessels; and are also receivers. This website may be of marginal use to pirates, but were it to go down it wouldn’t inconvenience them. Reception range is a function of height above water for both the receiver and transmitter.

Curt Fischer: So is this just a really weird time to be looking at the map, or do ships never go into the open ocean?

I also wondered that, and elsewhere on the site they explain that the data’s sourced by volunteers setting up computer-hooked antennas to monitor the standard frequencies on which large ships are required to periodically broadcast their current position. Presumably the volunteers are mostly/exclusively located on land, so only coastal waters have data coverage.

2) I think the data is relayed via land-based radio systems. If that’s the case it’d explain why ships in mid ocean do not show up.