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‘Google Earth has helped save lives’

Google Earth, in no manner, breaches the National Security Act, 1980 as it does not violate the fundamental right of any citizen.

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“Technological advances that on the whole make people’s lives richer and easier, cannot be held back because of the misdeeds of a few people,” is Google India Private Limited’s (GIPL) answer to a PIL seeking a ban on Google Earth.

“If that be the standard, then there may be similar reasons to roll back every technological development, which would include mobile and satellite phones,” the affidavit filed by Gitanjali Duggal, a constituted attorney for GIPL, said.

Within a fortnight of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, a PIL filed by advocate Amit Karkhanis had sought a blanket ban on the website that allegedly shows real time satellite images of any location in the world on the internet. The PIL stated that the website could be used by terrorists to study an area minutely before attacking it.

Advocate Jamshed Mistry said that the court would now hear the case on March 12.
However, Duggal, in the affidavit, stated that GIPL was only a subsidiary of Google Inc. and had no control over Google Earth that is owned by the parent company. Moreover, her affidavit said that the images on Google Earth were not real time and that it was “impossible” to show real time satellite images.

Google Earth, in no manner, breaches the National Security Act, 1980 as it does not violate the fundamental right of any citizen, it said.

Duggal explained how Google Earth aided NGOs and government bodies at the time of natural calamities. “In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many rescuers reported that they were able to save precious lives with the help of Google Earth.”

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