www.expressindia.com - Weather | Horoscope | Stocks | RSS
expressindia web city
HomeBlogsCricketAstrology TendersClassifieds Reader Comments Hotels
Sign In / Register | Archive
Expressindia » Story

PIL demands removal of ‘sensitive’ images from Google Earth

Font Size

Agencies

Posted: Dec 09, 2008 at 1253 hrs IST

Mumbai A PIL filed in the Bombay High Court has taken exception to easy access to satellite images of the vital installations in the country through Google Earth.

The petition filed by Mumbai-based lawyer Amit Karkhanis has demanded removal of images of the country from Google Earth.

"In the alternative, I have demanded that at least the images of vital installations in the country be blocked," said Karkhanis.

"The petition is filed against the backdrop of terror attacks in Mumbai," he said. "Even images of nuclear plants and defence establishments are available on this site. It is a security hazard," he added.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing on December 18.

Google Earth, a subsidiary of popular search website Google, is a US-based company. It has been made a party, along with Ministries of Defence, Science and Technology and Information Technology.

Google Earth provides satellite images of any location on the globe through its website.

Discuss this story on expressindia forums
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.
Karkhanis - new star for sequel of Dumb and Dumber by Maneesh Joshi on 14 Dec 2008

Oh no. Simple answer: ban this fulminating buffoon from the law. The judge should kindly smile at him and ask him to take his PIL up his anal orifice; since it's value is equal to faeces, it can at least be flushed out correctly. Mr Karkhanis, please educate yourself about G Earth. For starters, I recommend a wholesome diet of Thomas Friedman for a month. Maybe then, your enlightened avatar can laugh and blush at your earlier neanderthal one. Nice entertainment though, ban Google Earth's India image. Some clot can pick this up as a good storyline for a Bollywood movie starring equal clots like Himesh and party. Stupid oaf Karkhanis, wasting my time in writing this comment... comment

Other sites too will crop up if Google is Banned by Maniwal on 12 Dec 2008

Why only Google?? Also check that maps.yahoo.com and terraserver.com does provide the same. And if a website is banned and other may come up. So how many of them you can take care of. So taking care of our own security is more important.

Google complies with this in US so why not in India ? by phi on 10 Dec 2008

This is a valid request and Google must be asked to blur sensitive parts from the map. For example, if you look at Google Earth maps of US, the important locations like airports, president's/governer's house, military sights etc are not available at high resolution. So it is just a matter for Govt of India to take up this matter with Google. They will not do it unless you ask for it.

Gimmicks by N Kirgi on 10 Dec 2008

I don't understand an iota of logic behind the move. What happens if google doesn't comply. Actually it doesn't need to. Do we plan to block google earth? Will it prevent terrorists sitting in Pakistan or Bangladesh from accessing those maps?Most of the inventions can be used by terrorists to their advantage in the way they used GPS and SATphones. Can India ban those?Instead of bickering, there is a need to have an agency which could find out how these modern inventions help terrorists and find out ways to counter it. You can't expect policeman who doesn't know what is Internet and has seen AK47 only in movies or in hands of criminals to fight these tech-savvy and resourceful terrorists. The problem is we and our government still believes that world is peaceful and nobody wants to harm us. We always tend to look for cure after damage has been done rather than preventing that damage. Seems we have forgotten an old saying "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE".

This is a no brainer blame. It is our secuiry lapse 100 percent. by Ayyappa on 10 Dec 2008

This is a stupid decision. We know what is available on google earth, you build your security around that info. Google earth is a wonderful thing available for other good uses. Please do not blame it for our lack of prepardenss in this gross mismanagement. As we know now they have vido of all the hotels, CST roads ect google did not give that. If we are smart we should make like vedio availabe like google earth and use it for securing our borders.

Brainless by Mamatha Ravi on 10 Dec 2008

what an idea from a stupid moron! do you think this is the only way they can get info. what needs to be controlled is our tendency to be corrupt as its only becoz of this, that terrorists have been able to infiltrate our borders. filing a petition as brainless as this is NOT THE SOLUTION

Brainless by Mamatha Ravi on 10 Dec 2008

what an idea from a stupid moron! do you think this is the only way they can get info. what needs to be controlled is our tendency to be corrupt as its only becoz of this, that terrorists have been able to infiltrate our borders. filing a petition as brainless as this is NOT THE SOLUTION

PIL demands removal by Rajkishore Pandey on 10 Dec 2008

Anyone who wants such information can get it easily for a very small price...removing these images from Google will not achieve anything. And personally, I think you are a little ignorant in filing a petition like this. Actually, I think you are an embarrassment

STUPIDITY by IAVE COMMONSENSE on 09 Dec 2008

What a stupid idea, most people die in bed, LET US BAN BEDS!!! most people die wearing clothes, LET US GET NAKED!!! any other bright ideas Mr STUPID LAWYER, LET US BAN LAWYERS!! QED

Stupid! by Dr.George Rajmohan on 09 Dec 2008

Instead of google earth removal, what is needed is the removal of our corrupt governance of the country by its three wings. It is stupid to suggest that google earth is responsible Bombay attack. Such stupid people rule the roost in our country.

Security vs Search Engine by MVC on 09 Dec 2008

Though it looks good point, but blocking Google earth is not the option or solution, but security and intelligence and public cooperation that protects nation.Well, every one knows Indian govt sold info to KGB and RAW officials to Pakistan!

It is not valid PIL by Bharat on 09 Dec 2008

Google Earth helps more than being used for nefarious activities. Further, it at least informs our authorities that what kind of data/information is available. If one desires to procure images one can buy directly from companies selling these and not look to Google Earth, which the terrorists would do in case of no Google Earth being there. Let we as a nation know what kind of technologies are available to terrorists and prepare ourselves instead of killing a wonderful technology that helps millions at the time of natural disaster or others.

Use Technology; Dont Blame it by Vasan on 09 Dec 2008

If we cannot stop the bad people doing bad things, at least let's not stop the good people doing good things.Praise the technology; Turn it to help people, Dont destroy it.

Can not secure your own home, keep enemy within, and then complain about Google. by Globalisation on 09 Dec 2008

Can not secure your own home, keep enemy within although there is enough of them in Pakistan, Bangladesh etc., and then complain about Google. Pathetic soft state is what we have as a legacy of Nehru et al.

I am not sure if this is a valid request by Shiva Gopalakrishnan on 09 Dec 2008

If it is not Google Earth, then they can get it via RTI. We need to make sure our borders via land, air and sea are tight and not porous. This is the need of the hour.

It Is A Valid PIL by Indian on 09 Dec 2008

It is a valid request. You are forgetting that - Google Earth is accessible to anyone and everyone with nothing to check. In case of RTI the Govt., can always deny requests for such information. Atleast some level of check will be available in RTI than Google Earth.

gone are the days of this kind of dumbo security measures. by kapil on 09 Dec 2008

Arey Dumbo, you are the only one who will suffer. Terrorists will still get the images. Even before google earth there were companies selling this data. Now its free thats all. So thanks your stars and find something else to make noise about.gone are the days of this kind of dumbo security measures. It's time to be strong and open.Cheers,Kapil

Great Idea by Piyush on 09 Dec 2008

Kapil is very much right. He means - arm the terrorists with nuclear weapons (every detailed information) and then find counter-measures to defend yourself. We are not talking of playing a game here I believe.

Latest News

Business

Showbiz

Sports

1984 riot victims burn Sonia effigy

Uma's entry in poll fray to increase infighting in BJP, says Digvijay

Punjab bets: Congress most likely, but just ahead on seats

UP polls: The choice, and why it may hurt

Grand Mufti bans pastor from Valley

Man sends talaqnama by post to wife, court says no

20-year-old woman raped in Dwarka

More
© 2011 The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved
Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Express Group | Site Map