http://www.searchenginejournal.com/index.php?p=972 http://www.boston.com/news/world/australia/articles/2004/10/20/militants_googled_kidnapped_reporter/ Google Saves Kidnapped Journalist in Iraq Google can claim another life saved after a kidnapped Australian journalist was freed by his captors in Iraq earlier today. Freelance journalist John Martinkus was abducted by gunmen on Saturday outside a hotel near the Australian embassy. Apparently Martinkus was able to convince his captors that he was a journalist and not a CIA agent, a claim easily confirmed by a quick Google search. Mike Carey, a producer with Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service, told the Associated Press that, Google likely saved Martinkus’ life. “They Googled him and then went onto a web site - either his own or his book publisher’s web site, I don’t know which one - and saw that he was who he was, and that was instrumental in letting him go, I think, or swinging their decision.†Martinkus was filming a report for SBS’s Dateline program and was preparing to leave Iraq when he was grabbed about 5pm (AEST) on Saturday outside a hotel popular with foreign correspondents. SBS executive producer Mike Carey today said the journalist’s captors had investigated his background online and saw he was harmless. “They had thought he was working for the Americans as an informer.â€
yeah, I saw that too. He's lucky to have escaped alive. But, on the other hand, the terrorists aren't very smart to think the CIA lists all its agents info online. I googled my name and it seems I'm not a CIA agent either.
Seems Google is wrong because I am a CIA agent. Interesting story though, so many uses for Google .. it's certainly made my life easier, and couldn't think of using Yahoo or MSN.
Just came here to post about this - quite remarkable really! Just goes to show; you've got to be careful what you publish on the internet. It may save your life one day