Google and Apple might soon need a license for satellite mapping in India

Due to MNCs like Google and Apple giving a cold response to India's security concerns, they might soon need a license for satellite mapping in India, says a proposed legislation. As reported last week, a draft of Geospatial Information Regulation Bill was released last week, saying that anyone mapping India by a satellite or aerial platform will be needing a licence from a government "security vetting authority".

This move is being criticised as "return of the Licence Raj" and "digital nationalism". However, Kiren Rijiju, MoS for Home, has reacted to the criticism saying, "India as a responsible power must have established guidelines. We won't create hurdles for business and technological development, but national security considerations must not be compromised either."

Non-compliance to the above regulation could land you in jail for seven years, while inviting a fine of up to Rs 100 crore.

One person who seems to have particularly campaigned for such law is BJP MP Tarun Vijay, who has asked "patriotic Indians" to use the country's own 'Bhuvan' software application for maps.

"Why do we need Google? We should stop becoming Google's instruments," he told ET. "The patriotic government of Narendra Modi has taken a right step in a big relief to the security establishment. UPA did not take any action despite my pleas to the then Defence Minister AK Antony. I congratulate the Modi government for showing spine in face of arrogance of these IT giants," he said, adding: Google has been "behaving as if it were above Indian law".

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A top government official aware of the matter told ET that maps of India's sensitive installations were available on Google Maps, which significantly increases the security risk of those sites. "Pathankot air base, which was recently attacked, can be seen on Google Maps. Terrorists plot strikes on sensitive targets studying Google Maps," he said.

If the legislation is passed, companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple, would be severely and directly hit as they have millions of Indians using their maps. Moreover, several firms like Ola, Uber and Zomato depend on these maps to provide their services, and they too won’t be spared from the results.

Mishi Choudhary, legal director at Software Freedom Law Centre, told ET that since almost all online businesses today depend on geo-location for their services, all of them will be forced to seek a licence under the proposed law, which is a threat to digital India.

"This kind of digital nationalism is a way to create a government-controlled monopoly on all geographical information about the country, conveniently transforming Digital India to Licence India, digitally this time," she said.

However, a senior government official has added that companies should not have a problem to come under regulations on security considerations, given that the bill is seeking public comments and if they don’t like it, they can lodge their apprehensions. "We are not banning anyone from mapping India - only that the mapping has to be in line with Indian security considerations regarding sensitive installations and correct boundaries being depicted like not showing PoK and Arunachal Pradesh as out of India," this official said.

Meanwhile, a group of techies have created a website called savethemap.in, aiming to educate people about the matter and send out their responses.

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