http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2010/1 ... r-dispute/
The disputed border area between Nicaragua and Costa Rica around Harbour Head along the San Juan river.While Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, was talking about his rather grandiloquent “Foreign Policy” plans, it appears that Google Maps has been embroiled in an international incident in Latin America.
The Internet is abuzz with claims that a Nicaraguan commander justified a raid into neighboring Costa Rica after using Google Maps. It follows a story in the Costa Rican newspaper, La Nacion.
Real life is more nuanced than the buzz on the net. This is not “invasion by Googling.”
The sovereignty of the area affected, around Harbour Head along the San Juan river between the two countries, is hotly disputed.
La Nacion reports that Carlos Roverssi, deputy foreign minister of Costa Rica, had written to Google about its map asking for changes. A spokesman for Google would not confirm the report, saying it was not company policy to comment on the matter.
However, in a statement to Tech Europe, the Nicaraguan Embassy in London said: “The Government of Nicaragua has formally requested to Google not to accept the petition of Costa Rica to modify the border demarcation presented on Google Maps service, which recognizes Harbour Head as Nicaraguan territory. The path presented by Google corresponds to the various treaties that define the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border.”
Caught in the middle of this international fracas is Google. One country has called for changes, the other has demanded things remain the same. What is it to do?
Google declined to go into any detail, saying only: “We are aware of the issue and are currently investigating it. If we determine that our map is incorrect we will update the data as quickly as possible.”
However it did point to a posting on the Google LatLong blog that outlines the steps it has taken in other disputed areas.
What this whole incident does is to show the extraordinary power that Google has unwittingly amassed to itself. Perhaps talk of a Google foreign policy by Mr. Schmidt isn’t so grandiloquent after all.
