A few days after the Bangalore Police ordered Google to stop its Google StreetView picture taking exercise, political party BJP has come in to foray calling for a ban of the service in the country because of the “security threats” it might bring.
A memorandum has been submitted to the Karnataka Home Minister Mr. R Ashoka which asks him to look in to the matter and if possible, ban the service. The memorandum has been signed by Jayanagar MLA BN Vijaykumar as well who opined that the tool could be “misused” in commercially and strategically important city like Bangalore. The concern also seems to be the fact that Bangalore has important organizations like ISRO, HAL and NAL – all of which are targets for terrorists. 
Meanwhile, the home minister in the typical Indian fashion has “assured” that the matter would be looked in to.
Anyway, we think politicians should stick to the job of looking in to more pressing challenges the country is facing than a Google StreetView. A terrorist doesn’t need Google StreetView to aid him in his operations; even government maps are sturdy enough. So what next? Ban atlases? Almost everything that has a valid use can be possibly misused. That doesn’t mean you stop making them. You don’t ban planes if they crash. You don’t stop making knives because they can be possibly used to stab someone.
Of course, there is no harm in blocking Google from taking pictures of sensitive installations –but to say that StreetView would be the reason for terror attacks would be ridiculous. I would rather blame our intelligence agencies and security forces for an attack rather than Google StreetView.
What do you think? Is StreetView undoubtedly such significant a threat?
Right now, a terrorist somewhere, most certainly went #facepalm.
😀 Did you? Did you?
I certainly did.