Google Maps

Google Maps is a web-based mapping service developed by Google that offers satellite imagery, street maps, 360-degree panoramic views, real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bicycle, or public transport. Launched in 2005, Google Maps has become a crucial tool for navigation, helping users find directions, discover local businesses, explore cities, and locate places of interest worldwide. It also supports real-time GPS navigation, route optimization, and integration with other Google services like Google Earth, Google Street View, and Google My Business.

In addition to basic mapping functions, Google Maps offers various features like live traffic updates, public transit information, local business reviews, and turn-by-turn navigation. It has evolved to provide more personalized services, including location history tracking, real-time sharing of user locations, offline map downloads, and indoor mapping for large complexes like airports and malls.

Google Maps is known for displaying political borders based on a user’s location. For regions with territorial disputes, Google adjusts its depiction of borders according to local laws and sensitivities. For example, the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan, a disputed boundary, appears differently depending on the geographical location of the user accessing the map.

In May 2020, BOOM fact-checked a viral claim suggesting that Google Maps had removed the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan.

BOOM found out that the claim was misleading. While the depiction of the LoC is indeed subject to local regulations, the disputed borders can still be seen on Google Maps when viewed from outside India, confirming that the LoC has not been removed but is represented based on the user’s geographical location.