location data for camerphone photos on flickr

Yahoo is currently beta testing (US only) ZoneTag, a system that allows users to instantly tag cameraphone photos with locational data (example) when uploading them to flickr.

Linked up to google maps or, more likely, the similar yahoo version, this would be a great tool. A news site, for example, could display news stories on a map alongside photos, giving readers greater insight into the story and it’s location. Or a budget airline or travel site might illustrate locations using ZoneTagged flickr photos. Of course, it would also be a handy technology for intelligence organisations and the military – both of which are likely to have encountered great difficulties in keeping track, and making use of, reconnaissance photos. With tools like ZoneTag, now all they’ll have to do is set their flickr default to show photos only to “friends”, add big brother to their contacts list and snap away with their cameraphone. You’d think it’s far fetched but CIA agents don’t exactly have a great record of keeping inconspicuous online…