Google says it has responded to Survey of India queries over 'Mapathon'

As Delhi Police investigates whether Google violated rules in holding a competition that asked users to add information about their local areas for its online map, the US Internet company Saturday said it had responded to queries raised by Survey of India more than 10 days back and hasn't heard from it yet.

"The Survey of India contacted Google regarding the Mapathon contest on March 22, and - as requested by them - we responded to them on March 25 and offered to meet them to discuss their concerns," Google said in a statement.

"We have not heard back from them further, and are always available to discuss any concerns that they or other agencies might have regarding our programmes," it said.

Google, which ran the "Mapathon" in India from February 12 to March 25, said the context was to encourage Indians to use Map Maker.

Police is acting on a complaint filed by Survey of India, the country's national survey and mapping agency, which said the contest was illegal and may threaten national security.

Google said it launched "Map Maker in India in 2008 with the goal of making more information accessible to all, by allowing people to add information about local places to Google Maps".

Meanwhile, the company had said in a statement yesterday: "Relevant Indian authorities, including the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Surveyor General of India, have been briefed on Map Maker, which complies with all applicable laws."