Google to blur key India sites

Google?s satellite image service will blur strategic Indian locations like government buildings and military sites after security concerns were voiced by President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Google’s satellite image service will blur strategic Indian locations like government buildings and military sites after security concerns were voiced by President APJ Abdul Kalam, a report said on Sunday.

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President Kalam in 2005 raised security concerns about the Google Earth website, which lets users view sophisticated satellite images from around the world.

Google Earth will not only blur pictures of sites that the Indian government considers sensitive, but also distort building plans of key facilities.

Google’s representatives met Indian officials from the science and technology ministry recently to discuss the issue. Google Earth will accept the government’s list of strategic sites that need to be masked,according to a report.

The service — launched in June 2005 — contains aerial photos of the parliament, Kalam’s residence in New Delhi as well as airfields and other locations considered to be targets for various insurgent groups in the country.