Google Street View: No end to stalemate yet

BANGALORE: The controversyridden search engine giant Google,which was stopped from collecting database for its application, Street View, failed to convince the ruling BJP, even as Google sent its legal expert Geetanjali Duggal and Venkatesh Hariharan, head of public policy on government affairs, on Monday for a closed door meeting.
The BJP team, under the leadership of local MLC Ashwath Narayan, met the officials. While BJP members stuck to their demand that the Central government should first have a proper set of clearance guidelines and a screening process before providing such easily available information on the Internet. "The Central government still doesn't have a clearcut policy on data protection. Street View has its security risks and it is highly irresponsible that such initiative is being undertaken without offering any clarity on the security issues," BJP state unit media incharge S Prakash said.Google launched the data compiling for its 3D Street View service in May, which allows users to virtually explore and navigate a neighbourhood through panoramic streetlevel images; however, Bangalore police stopped the process citing security reasons. "We are reviewing the objections and we have also started a dialogue with the Central government. The security concerns are being looked into," head of public policy and government affairs Venkatesh Hariharan said.