India rejects Google's proposal to roll out Street View app

Union minister of state for home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told the Lok Sabha that Google had submitted a proposal in July 2015, seeking permission for enabling 360-degree panaoramic street level imagery and viewing public areas.

But opposition from the defence forces and security agencies have resulted in the government refusing Google the permission to do so. While the US and other developed countries now allow Google Street Views to be undertaken from their territories, many had in the past delayed giving permission to the company.

Earlier, Google had launched street view services for prominent tourist sites including the Taj Mahal at Agra, the Red Fort and Qutub Minar in Delhi, besides prominent monuments such as the Varanasi river bank, the Mysore Palace and the Thanjavur temple.

In fact, about two years ago, the Home Ministry had rejected Google’s plans cover the entire country through Street View. There were fears that terrorists could take advantage and conduct photographic reconnaissance of targets, as was done before the Mumbai 2008 terrorist attacks took place.

Google has also been cooperating with the government in the matter of privacy rules and the security of the country.

Earlier this month, Suren Ruhela, director, Google Maps Next Billion Users, had affirmed that the company followed the laws of the land wherever it operated.

“The entire space around location technology and services is dynamic,” he had told reporters. “The ecosystem is still evolving. Some of the concerns that governments have are not specific to one country as everyone wants to protect their citizens. We work in multiple countries and abide by the law of the land.”