Google Map disputes Kashmir border as 'controversial'

Diplomats-policy makers and company executives claim the boundaries of disputed areas are changing

(PTI) Washington, Ta. February 15, 2020, Saturday

The world borders are redrawn on Google Maps and the borders of the countries are displayed differently depending on where the user views this map.

Controversy has arisen after the popular search engine described Kashmir's borders as a "disputed" area in the proceedings. A leading American daily has claimed that Kashmir's borders were displayed as dotted lines when viewing India's map from abroad on Google Maps.

According to the Washington Post report, Google's online map depicts Kashmir under Indian control. However, when viewed from abroad, the borders of Kashmir have been shown as a contentious area as dotted lines. Kashmir is described as a contentious area in Pakistan, while from India it has been portrayed as a part of India, the Washington Post reported.

Additionally, as per this report, Google Map shows controversial borders depending on which country you are searching from. Responding to the Washington Post's report, a company spokesperson said: "Google is following a global policy to show disputed areas.

The company shows the boundaries of its global domain based on the claims of nations that have disputed claims. The company does not advocate or support their claims. The products of a company like Google Map are localized in the local domain and show the status of the country in which the company is implementing the local laws. '

The Washington Post reports that the borders of the world from Argentina to the United Kingdom to Iran are shown on the Google Map, depending on where you look. Google's corporate mission is to organize the world's information, but the company also manipulates it as it wishes.

The Washington Post added that Google Maps, with 80 percent of its market share and more than a billion users, can have a profound impact on people in the world.

The Washington Post claimed that the company's decisions on maps of the world were often influenced not only by history and local laws, but also at times by the diplomats and policy makers, as well as by the company's own executives.