Google Earth to blur areas

GOOGLE’S satellite image service will blur strategic Indian locations such as government buildings and military sites after security concerns were voiced by the country’s president.

Indian President Abdul Kalam in 2005 raised security concerns about the Google Earth website, which lets users view sophisticated satellite images from around the world.

Google Earth would not only blur pictures of sites that the government considered sensitive, but also distort building plans of key facilities, the Times of India reported, quoting unnamed officials.

The daily said that Google representatives met Indian officials from the science and technology ministry recently to discuss the issue.

Google Earth would accept the government’s list of strategic sites that needed to be masked, the report said.