Indian Government Wants Google Earth Censored

Dec 11, 2008 at 5:04pm ET by Matt McGee

On the heels of the tragic terrorist attacks in Mumbai last month, legal advocates in India are asking the country’s High Court to demand that Google blur sensitive locations on Google Earth.

The Times reports that the Indian petition says Google Earth “aids terrorists in plotting attacks” and offers “absolutely no control to prevent misuse or limit access” of the service, particularly access to photos of sensitive locations such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

In the wake of the attacks, there were many reports that the terrorists used high-tech tools — including GPS — to plan, execute, and monitor the attacks. The only gunman captured alive has reportedly told police that the terrorists used satellite imagery to learn about the city of Mumbai.

Security concerns over Google Earth go back years. In 2005, Australian officials asked Google to remove the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor from Google Earth. Just last month, USA Today wrote about governments that are concerned about easy access to satellite photos on Google Earth and from other sources.

(And it’s not just Google Earth: Earlier this year, the Pentagon banned Google StreetView cars from taking photos on U.S. military bases.)

No word on if/when the Indian High Court may respond to the petition.

Matt McGee is the Search Engine Land Assignment Editor, and offers search marketing consulting and training to businesses of all sizes. He blogs at Small Business Search Marketing and HyperlocalBlogger.com.

See more articles by Matt McGee >

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