Press release
BJP demands action against Google Mapathon- meets Defence Minister Antony- ' can we not even secure mapping norms within India' asks Vijay
19th March 2013-New Delhi - Shri Tarun Vijay, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and National Spokesperson, BJP today met Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony and demanded strict action against Google Mapathon currently going on till 25th March . In a letter given to Raksha Mantri Shri Antony, Shri Tarun Vijay has stated that we are in midst of Google – Mapathon 2013, which will go till 25th March. Mapathon is based on community mapping where people mark buildings, localities etc and Google publishes it. People in general are not aware of mapping policy provisions.
Already on their maps, publicly available on their site, the locations marked as Rajya Sabha, Sena Bhawan, Lok Sabha , Naval Dock Yard and various ministries etc have been shown. It's shocking that how such grave violation has not caught the eyes of the govt and no action has been stipulated against the Google in India.
Shri A.K.Antony agreed that this is s serious matter and he assured that immediately the matter will be examined and action considered.
Shri Tarun Vijay said that preparation and unrestricted publishing of "Maps" is subject to government approval in India, and in this regard we have 'New Mapping Policy 2005' which is available on Survey of India and Dept of Science and Tech. website.
Any private agency which undertakes map data preparation and marks localities/buildings etc referred to as points of interest(PoIs) on a scale larger than 1:50K, should be vetted by Ministry of Defence for any VAs (Vulnerable Areas)and VPs (Vulnerable Points). Important government buildings, oil storages, critical flyovers, airports, cantonment etc are generally considered VA/VP.
In past too, Google was asked to restrain from publishing such data like marking of warships in naval dockyard in Mumbai was done and it complied with it. Even Prof. APJ Abdul Kalam had raised serious objection in such Google operations. Similarly about a year ago, it was asked to stop from collect street imagery with GPS coordinate as it had not taken permission from concerned agency.
There are two issues which needs to be looked into:
1. Knowingly or unknowingly, publishing such data which is VA/VP endangers security and violates mapping policy
2. Lot of data which may be sensitive but common man being unaware of its implication is providing Google such data about this country, which Google may or may not publish. But it will be available with Google for any future use by Google and its associates.
Terrorists are increasingly relying on sophisticated technology and internet services including Google Earth, maps and satellite phones for their horrible plans. The ministry of science and technology and Survey of India are the two authorities responsible for mapping the country. The country's National Mapping Policy of 2005 allows only the Survey of India to prepare maps in India in association with the National Remote Sensing Centre.
However, Google Earth provided free internet satellite pictures to an individual with "absolutely no control to prevent misuse or limit access'' to sensitive places such as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Naval dockyards, nuclear and oil establishments and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
I demand an immediate enquiry in this matter and registration of a criminal case against the Google for violating Indian defence regulations.
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