Google Maps under scrutiny after fatal car crash in India

INDIA, Nov 30: This question is being asked in India after a tragic accident that left three men dead when their car veered off an unfinished bridge and plunged into a riverbed in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The incident took place on Sunday and while the police investigation is ongoing, authorities suspect the route was suggested by Google Maps.

Earlier this year, part of the bridge collapsed due to flooding. The locals were aware of the danger and avoided the bridge, but the three victims, who were unfamiliar with the area, were unaware of the situation. There were no barricades or warning signs indicating the bridge was incomplete.

Police have filed a complaint naming four engineers of the state highway department and an unnamed Google Maps official, accusing them of culpable homicide. Google has confirmed it is cooperating with the investigation, according to a spokesperson who spoke to BBC Hindi.

This tragic event has drawn attention to India’s underdeveloped road infrastructure and sparked a debate on whether navigation apps like Google Maps should be held responsible for such accidents. Some critics claim the app failed to provide accurate information, while others point to government negligence in failing to properly secure the site.

Google Maps, the most popular navigation app in India, has around 60 million active users and plays a crucial role in enabling services for ride-sharing, e-commerce and food delivery platforms. However, the app has often been criticized for providing incorrect directions, which can sometimes lead to fatal accidents. In 2021, a Maharashtra man drowned after driving into a dam, reportedly following directions from Google Maps. Last year, two young doctors from Kerala also died when they drove into a river while using the app.

How does Google Maps stay informed of changes on the road? GPS signals from users’ apps track traffic patterns, while updates from governments and users about closures or traffic jams are prioritized. However, Google relies on satellite images, Google Street View and government notifications to confirm changes and update the map.

According to Ashish Nair, founder of mapping platform Potter Maps and former Google Maps employee, navigation apps cannot be held liable for accidents because their terms of service warn users to use their own judgment and that the information provided may differ from actual conditions. Nair also notes that it is extremely difficult for a platform like Google, which oversees maps worldwide, to keep track of every change on the road.

Moreover, India lacks a robust system for reporting road changes, unlike countries like Singapore, where such systems exist. Nair argues that India’s large population and rapid infrastructure development make real-time data collection difficult, meaning inaccurate maps are likely to persist until the government improves data collection and sharing.

Lawyers remain divided in the area of ​​legal liability. Lawyer Saima Khan points out that India’s Information Technology (IT) Act treats digital platforms like Google Maps as intermediaries and protects them from liability for third-party information. However, Khan also suggests that if it can be shown that Google Maps failed to update its data despite receiving accurate information, the company could potentially be held liable for negligence.