hangout! https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts/_/datameet.org/savethemap
On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 10:59 PM, Raman Chima <[email protected]> wrote: > Hiya, > > I would like to join Nisha. I can only join from around 4:30 to 5:30PM > though; I unfortunately have other meetings in between. > > I am happy to share what I know on background (take a little bit of that > former police chap's words with a pinch of salt) and help on next steps > with respect to policy and advocacy - at least what I can try to help with. > > Raman. > > On 10 May 2016 at 19:54, Vaishnavi Jayakumar (Inclusive India) < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> FYI - Update >> >> MHA open to reviewing of draft Geospatial Bill >> <http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/map-issue-govt-ready-for-review-of-geospatial-bill/article8576356.ece> >> >> *10-May-2016* >> >> *According to the draft ‘The Geospatial Information Regulation Bill >> 2016’, it will be mandatory to take permission from a government authority >> before acquiring, disseminating, publishing or distributing any geospatial >> information on India.* >> >> Even as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) agreed to review a >> much-criticised draft Bill that proposes jail term of seven years and a >> fine up to Rs. 100 crore for wrongly depicting the map of India, officials >> said the Bill was first drafted in 2012 and the January 2 attack at the >> Pathankot airbase was the immediate trigger for reintroducing the Bill. >> >> Three days after the draft Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, 2016 >> was uploaded on the Home Ministry’s website seeking comments from the >> public, the government on Monday indicated that it was open to review its >> contents and consider all suggestions that are to come in the next one >> month. >> >> The draft Bill has come under scathing criticism on social media and >> other online platforms for its draconian features. >> >> *‘Send valid suggestions’* >> >> Uttarakhand DGP M.A. Ganapathy who was one of the officials to draft the >> Bill during his stint in the MHA, told The Hindu, “instead of getting >> hysterical, people should send valid and sane suggestions to oppose the >> draft Bill. This is at a draft stage and the idea was to invite comments.” >> >> Another official involved in drafting the Bill said, “this Bill has been >> in the works since 2012. A committee of secretaries (CoS) had submitted a >> report calling for an regulatory body to monitor the Internet giants like >> Google and Microsoft. How else do you regulate them, by begging?” >> The official added that the investigations in the Pathankot airbase >> attack revealed that the terrorists who got into the airbase had precise >> information about its topography. “The Pathankot airbase and other >> strategic locations are easily available on Google maps and it has become >> easier for terrorists to plan an attack. When Pathankot happened, we >> decided that this was the time to revisit the Bill,” said the official. >> >> According to the draft Bill, it will be mandatory to take permission from >> a government authority before acquiring, disseminating, publishing or >> distributing any geospatial information of India. "No person shall depict, >> disseminate, publish or distribute any wrong or false topographic >> information of India including international boundaries through internet >> platforms or online services or in any electronic or physical form. >> "Whoever acquired any geospatial information of India in contravention of >> the law shall be punished with a fine ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 >> crore and/ or imprisonment for a period upto seven years," according to the >> draft bill. The government also proposed to set up a Security Vetting >> Authority to carry out security vetting of the Geospatial Information of >> India in a time bound manner and as per the regulations framed by an apex >> committee. >> >> However, there have been criticism from various quarters saying the >> provisions of the draft bill are stringent and may violate privacy of >> individuals. >> >> The Home Ministry official discounted the apprehensions saying except >> authorised agencies, that too after due permission, no one can invade >> anyone's privacy. >> >> Geospatial Information means geospatial imagery or data acquired through >> space or aerial platforms such as satellite, aircrafts, airships, balloons, >> unmanned aerial vehicles including value addition or graphical or digital >> data depicting natural or man-made physical features, phenomenon or >> boundaries of the earth or any information related thereto including >> surveys, charts, maps, terrestrial photos referenced to co-ordinate system >> and having attributes. >> >> >> http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/map-issue-govt-ready-for-review-of-geospatial-bill/article8576356.ece >> >> >> *Govt may review provisions of draft Geospatial Bill >> <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Govt-may-review-provisions-of-draft-Geospatial-Bill/articleshowprint/52190965.cms>* >> >> *PTI | May 9, 2016, 06.32 PM IST* >> >> *New Delhi, May 9 () *Facing criticism, the government today indicated >> that it was ready for review of the provisions of a draft bill that >> proposes jail term of seven years and a fine upto Rs 100 crore if anyone >> wrongly depicts India's map. >> >> A top Home Ministry official said the draft 'The Geospatial Information >> Regulation Bill 2016' has been made public seeking views and suggestions of >> general public on its various provisions. >> >> "We are open to consider all suggestions that will come in next one >> month," the official said. >> >> According to the draft 'The Geospatial Information Regulation Bill 2016', >> it will be mandatory to take permission from a government authority before >> acquiring, disseminating, publishing or distributing any geospatial >> information of India. "No person shall depict, disseminate, publish or >> distribute any wrong or false topographic information of India including >> international boundaries through internet platforms or online services or >> in any electronic or physical form. "Whoever acquired any geospatial >> information of India in contravention of the law shall be punished with a >> fine ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 crore and/ or imprisonment for a >> period upto seven years," according to the draft bill. The government also >> proposed to set up a Security Vetting Authority to carry out security >> vetting of the Geospatial Information of India in a time bound manner and >> as per the regulations framed by an apex committee. >> >> However, there have been criticism from various quarters saying the >> provisions of the draft bill are stringent and may violate privacy of >> individuals. The Home Ministry official discounted the apprehensions saying >> except authorised agencies, that too after due permission, no one can >> invade anyone's privacy. Geospatial Information means geospatial imagery or >> data acquired through space or aerial platforms such as satellite, >> aircrafts, airships, balloons, unmanned aerial vehicles including value >> addition or graphical or digital data depicting natural or man-made >> physical features, phenomenon or boundaries of the earth or any information >> related thereto including surveys, charts, maps, terrestrial photos >> referenced to co-ordinate system and having attributes. >> >> >> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Govt-may-review-provisions-of-draft-Geospatial-Bill/articleshowprint/52190965.cms >> >> --------------------------------------- >> *VAISHNAVI JAYAKUMAR* >> http://about.me/vjayakumar >> >> On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 4:52 PM, Nisha Thompson <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> A meetup has been scheduled to discuss and plan next steps for >>> #savethemap at Centre for Internet and Society. >>> >>> https://goo.gl/maps/yhNZEsx1Pxv >>> >>> If you aren't in Bangalore I believe we will try to do a hangout or >>> skype call for people to join. >>> >>> Nisha >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Nisha Thompson >>> DataMeet.org >>> [email protected] >>> skype: nishaqt >>> mobile: 962-061-2245 >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Datameet is a community of Data Science enthusiasts in India. Know more >>> about us by visiting http://datameet.org >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "datameet" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- >> Datameet is a community of Data Science enthusiasts in India. Know more >> about us by visiting http://datameet.org >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "datameet" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > -- > Datameet is a community of Data Science enthusiasts in India. Know more > about us by visiting http://datameet.org > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "datameet" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- Nisha Thompson DataMeet.org [email protected] skype: nishaqt mobile: 962-061-2245 -- Datameet is a community of Data Science enthusiasts in India. Know more about us by visiting http://datameet.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "datameet" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
