A public-interest litigation (PIL), seeking a ban on Google Earth has been initiated in the Bombay High Court, following the unfortunate episode that hit Mumbai less than a fortnight ago.

The users can see cities and even houses from a bird’s eye view via the Google Earth application which displays satellite images of varying resolutions of the earth’s surface. Advocate Amit Karkhanis, stated on Monday that Google Earth could be used by terrorists to study sensitive areas. The petition filed by Karkhanis also advised the court to direct Google to blur images of sensitive areas in the country immediately till the case is decided.

The plea states, “This website (sic) aids terrorists in plotting attacks.”

“Programs like Google Earth contravene the National Mapping Policy framed by the Centre in 2005 and the National Security Act, 1980,” said Karkhanis.

The PIL is to be heard by the court on 18th December. “The central or a state government can take action against any person whose actions could be prejudicial to India’s security,” sates the act. The petition also says, “Google Earth introduces a simpler form of spying, which surely every country would want to curb.”