Vice President of India Offers Sobering Insights of Geospatial Technology

The comments of the Vice President of India, Shri M Hamid Ansari, were sobering. While recognizing the true benefits of geospatial technology, he offered as many cautions as kudos. The full text of his speech to the Map World Forum delegates is recommended reading because it not only points to the advantages but the dangers of more open access to geospatial information.

Addressing the attacks of Mumbai head-on saying, "Like any technology, geospatial technologies could be used either for the welfare of mankind or to its detriment. Sensitive geospatial data have serious implications not only for development and governance but also for national security. The terrorists who attacked Mumbai used global positioning systems and Google Earth maps to identify their targets and the terrain…The solution to this would not be in capping the use of technologies or in preventing access. The only constructive option lies in better regulation of geospatial data and of relevant stake-holders. A fine balance is needed to allow geospatial technologies to flourish without compromising on national security concerns. The Government of India is committed to bring legislation for creating a National Geospatial Data Regulatory Authority."

What does this means for more open data access in India is anyone’s guess. While recognizing that it’s nearly impossible to "un-ring the bell" it may lead to tighter restrictions in the near term. Will images of sensitive locations be "blurred out" on Google Earth…again? They are in the U.S…why not India? Will this change now that the Obama administration has taken the reigns?