Govt 'no' to Google Street View over security issues
NEW DELHI, June 10, 2016, DHNS:
Google will not be able to roll out its ambitious street view app in India with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denying permission on security grounds.
Through Google Street View, the internet giant planned to put cities, tourist spots, hills and rivers in an application in which one can explore it through a 360 degree, panoramic and street-level imagery. The denial of permission came as the government felt such image capturing has security implications.
The security establishment also had in mind that the planning for the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai involved photographic reconnaissance of targets by American terrorist David Headley. Google has been trying to get permission for some time, but the MHA was not in a hurry as it wanted a thorough examination of the issue.
The Ministry of Defence and intelligence agencies also raised a red flag as they felt that it would seriously compromise the security interests of the country. The Centre is already planning to bring in the Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, 2016, whose stringent provisions have led to a controversy. The draft bill is in public domain for discussion.
Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth that provides panoramic views from positions along many streets in the world.
It was launched in 2007 in several cities in the US and has since expanded to include cities and rural areas worldwide.
Privacy concerns
Though Google Street View is extensively used in the United States, Canada and many European countries, it has raised privacy concerns among a section of people and activists.
In 2011, Google launched Street View as a pilot project in some locations like Qutub Minar, the Thanjavur temple, the Varanasi riverbank, the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, Nalanda University, Mysore Palace and Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, Google had to stop collecting images for its Street View app in Bengaluru after police objected to it. Bengaluru Police felt that the city was “highly sensitive” and such photographic mapping could be a serious security concern.
Govt worried over misuse of the feature, which offers 360 degree views of places
For example, photos of target places helped the 26/11 Mumbai attackers
Even in the West, people have raised concerns over privacy issues
Through Google Street View, the internet giant planned to put cities, tourist spots, hills and rivers in an application in which one can explore it through a 360 degree, panoramic and street-level imagery. The denial of permission came as the government felt such image capturing has security implications.
The security establishment also had in mind that the planning for the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai involved photographic reconnaissance of targets by American terrorist David Headley. Google has been trying to get permission for some time, but the MHA was not in a hurry as it wanted a thorough examination of the issue.
The Ministry of Defence and intelligence agencies also raised a red flag as they felt that it would seriously compromise the security interests of the country. The Centre is already planning to bring in the Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, 2016, whose stringent provisions have led to a controversy. The draft bill is in public domain for discussion.
Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth that provides panoramic views from positions along many streets in the world.
It was launched in 2007 in several cities in the US and has since expanded to include cities and rural areas worldwide.
Privacy concerns
Though Google Street View is extensively used in the United States, Canada and many European countries, it has raised privacy concerns among a section of people and activists.
In 2011, Google launched Street View as a pilot project in some locations like Qutub Minar, the Thanjavur temple, the Varanasi riverbank, the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, Nalanda University, Mysore Palace and Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, Google had to stop collecting images for its Street View app in Bengaluru after police objected to it. Bengaluru Police felt that the city was “highly sensitive” and such photographic mapping could be a serious security concern.
Govt worried over misuse of the feature, which offers 360 degree views of places
For example, photos of target places helped the 26/11 Mumbai attackers
Even in the West, people have raised concerns over privacy issues
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