This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/technology/6331033.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Google blurs key images of India Google Earth prompts Indian fears
(about 7 hours later)
Google has agreed to blur some satellite images of India viewable via the Google Earth service. Google is in talks with India about sensitive sites viewable via the Google Earth service.
Citing security worries the Indian government has asked Google to reduce the detail in a selection of images.Citing security worries the Indian government has asked Google to reduce the detail in a selection of images.
The government is drawing up a list of places it considers sensitive, which is expected to include military bases and government buildings.The government is drawing up a list of places it considers sensitive, which is expected to include military bases and government buildings.
Many other areas in Google Earth have been blurred or censored at the request of other governments. Many other areas in Google Earth have been blurred by governments keen to stop people seeing sensitive sites.
The agreement to censor some locations viewable via Google Earth came out of a meeting between science and technology ministers from the Indian government and the search firm. The talks about blurring some locations viewable via Google Earth came out of a meeting between science and technology ministers from the Indian government and the search firm.
In a report in the Times of India, the Indian government said that detailed plans of buildings and accurate maps could prove a boon to extremists. India's fears were first aired in 2005 - soon after the service launched.In a report in the Times of India, the Indian government said that detailed plans of buildings and accurate maps could prove a boon to extremists. India's fears were first aired in 2005 - soon after the service launched.
Other governments have asked Google to remove or blur images. Sites obscured in this way have included nuclear power plants, official buildings and the offices of security services. In a statement the search giant said: "Google has been talking and will continue to talk to the Indian government about any security concerns it may have regarding Google Earth.
"We are pleased to have initiated dialogue with the Indian government, the discussions have been substantive and constructive, but no agreements have been made."
It added: "We have committed to continue the dialogue".
The images used to create Google Earth are often taken by governments and other agencies which often blur or censor what can be seen. Sites obscured in this way have included nuclear power plants, official buildings and the offices of security services.
In "exceptional" circumstances Google said it too would blur images making up the virtual Earth.
This has prompted many people to scour Google's virtual Earth looking for the places where this blurring has occurred.This has prompted many people to scour Google's virtual Earth looking for the places where this blurring has occurred.
As its name implies Google Earth is a downloadable program that gives users access to a database of satellite photographs that have been stitched together to form a vast composite image of the planet. Image resolutions vary from 15m to 15cm.As its name implies Google Earth is a downloadable program that gives users access to a database of satellite photographs that have been stitched together to form a vast composite image of the planet. Image resolutions vary from 15m to 15cm.
Google has also started annotating parts of some images with 3D representations of important buildings and places.Google has also started annotating parts of some images with 3D representations of important buildings and places.