Three men in India died when their car veered off an unfinished bridge and plunged into a riverbed in Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred on Sunday, and police are investigating, suspecting that Google Maps led the group to take the dangerous route.
Earlier this year, a part of the bridge had collapsed due to flooding. While locals were aware of the hazard and avoided the bridge, the three men, unfamiliar with the area, were unaware of the issue. There were no barricades or signs indicating that the bridge was incomplete.
In response, authorities have filed a police complaint against four engineers from the state’s road department and an unnamed official from Google Maps on charges of culpable homicide.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that the company is cooperating with the investigation.
The accident has highlighted concerns about India’s road infrastructure and sparked a debate over whether navigation apps like Google Maps should be held accountable. Some critics argue that the app failed to provide accurate information, while others point to the government’s failure to secure the site.
Google Maps tracks road conditions through GPS signals from users’ devices, which help identify traffic congestion or less-traveled routes. The app also receives updates from authorities and users about traffic changes or closures. However, due to the volume of complaints, not all issues are immediately addressed.
Ashish Nair, founder of mapping platform Potter Maps and former Google Maps employee, explained that mapping platforms cannot be held responsible for accidents, as their terms of service require users to exercise their own judgment. Updating maps is a complex process, especially for global platforms like Google, which rely on satellite imagery, user reports, and government notifications to verify and update information.
Legal opinions on whether GPS apps can be held liable for road accidents remain divided.
BBC
