Question : INDIAN MAP ON GOOGLE

(a) whether Google is displaying an incorrect map of India;

(b) If so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto;

(c) The steps taken by the Government to block the wall post on the social networking sites which damage credential and proud of past national leaders;

(d) whether there is any provision of bringing social networking sites under the surveillance through any legal procedure for the purpose of safety and security of the nation; and

(e) If so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (COL. RAJYAVARDHAN SINGH RATHORE (Retd.)).

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) On receipt of complaints regarding display of incorrect map of India by Google, Survey of India found that Google is displaying incorrect map of India on its different websites, namely, www.google.co.in(lndia), www.ditu.google.co.ch(China), www.google.pk(Pakistan) and www.google.com.org (General).

Survey of India verified the maps and found that the maps displayed on different Google websites were not in accordance with the National Map Policy of Survey of India and Map Restriction Policy issued by the Ministry of Defence from time to time. Displaying incorrect map of India by Google is an offence under Section 69-A of Information Technology Act, 2000. Accordingly, matter was taken up by the Survey of India with Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence vide letter NO.383/BC-16MR dated 16.05.2013 for necessary preventive or legal action at their end. Nodal Officer has also been appointed by the Survey of India to deal with such complaints.

(c) Blocking action in regard to objectionable content on website is taken up in line with the provision of section 69A of Information Technology Act. 2000. The rules also provide blocking of information through direction of any competent court of India.

(d) & (e) Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rule 2011, under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act requires that the Intermediaries shall observe due diligence while discharging their duties and shall inform the users of computer resource not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any Information that is harmful, objectionable, affect minors and unlawful in any way.

In addition to that DeitY issued an Advisory on 17th August 2012 to all the intermediaries, including national and international Social Networking Sites, advising them to take necessary action to disable inflammatory and hateful content hosted on their websites on priority basis. DeitY is in regular dialogue with the Intermediaries including Social Networking Sites for effective and efficient disablement of such content.