South Korea is nearing a choice on whether or not to permit Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map information to servers exterior the nation. The detailed maps, which use a 1:5,000 scale, would present streets, buildings, and alleyways in far higher element than at the moment accessible on these platforms. Nonetheless, a number of regulatory and safety hurdles stay unresolved.

Earlier this week, South Korea’s Nationwide Meeting Protection Committee held a parliamentary audit of Google Korea. Lawmakers questioned the corporate’s requests for native map information, elevating issues over nationwide safety and digital sovereignty. The session comes two months after Seoul postponed its determination on Google’s request to export high-resolution map information in August, following an earlier delay in Could.

A policymaker has warned that Google’s satellite tv for pc maps may endanger nationwide safety by exposing delicate navy websites when mixed with business imagery and on-line information. The lawmaker is urging the federal government to achieve authority to watch and regulate the export of high-resolution geographic data. Provided that South Korea stays technically at struggle with North Korea, the federal government is cautious about exposing such areas.

The federal government’s last determination on Google Maps is predicted round November 11, or presumably even earlier, a South Korean authorities official informed TechCrunch. Final month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport introduced it will prolong the overview interval by an extra 60 days.

In February, Google requested, for the third time in South Korea, permission from the Korean Nationwide Geographic Info Institute to make use of a 1:5,000 scale map, which gives a lot higher particulars, in its app and to switch the map information to servers exterior of South Korea. At present, Google makes use of a 1:25,000 scale map that features factors of curiosity and satellite tv for pc imagery. Native navigation apps similar to Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map are the preferred amongst native customers. These apps supply map information at a scale of 1:5,000, and subsequently, far more data and element, giving them a big aggressive benefit.

In 2011 and once more in 2016, South Korean authorities turned down Google’s request for entry to the nation’s map information. Officers made clear that approval would hinge on the corporate opening an area information middle and obscuring delicate areas, together with nationwide safety websites, citing safety issues. Google declined to fulfill these circumstances.

After South Korea rejected approval in August, Google reportedly agreed to obscure the areas of the nation’s safety websites on Google Maps and Google Earth. The corporate is blurring delicate installations to deal with authorities issues over satellite tv for pc imagery and is reportedly exploring the acquisition of government-approved satellite tv for pc information from native suppliers, together with T Map.

Google didn’t instantly reply to a TechCrunch request for remark.

Beneath South Korea’s Geospatial Info Administration Act (Article 16), authorities survey information — similar to maps and satellite tv for pc pictures — can’t be despatched overseas with out approval from your complete Cupboard. Handed within the Nineteen Seventies, the legislation continues to underpin the nation’s strict management over geospatial information.

Map information has grow to be a delicate nationwide safety subject in battle zones worldwide. The Israeli military requested Google Maps to show off real-time visitors information in Israel and Gaza in 2023, simply because it did in Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion. And in 2009, European regulators had urged Google to delete unique Road View pictures over privateness issues.

Apple follows Google in looking for South Korea map information

It’s not simply Google making strikes. Apple additionally requested in June to export high-resolution map information from South Korea at a 1:5,000 scale. That got here after its preliminary request in 2023 was turned down.

Whereas Google retains its map servers exterior Korea, Apple operates native servers, a distinction the federal government weighs when reviewing requests. Native servers permit authorities to reply swiftly to safety issues at delicate websites.

Final month, South Korea postponed its determination on permitting Apple to export high-precision digital map information, pushing the overview to December.

Stories recommend Apple might present extra flexibility than Google in adhering to government-imposed restrictions, together with blurring, masking, or decreasing the decision of delicate websites. The corporate can be stated to plan to make use of SK Telecom’s T Map as its major base map information supply.

Apple didn’t reply to TechCrunch’s requests for remark.

Google and Apple are upgrading their maps with detailed constructing footprints, alleyways, and exact street-level information to boost navigation, which may additionally assist superior applied sciences like self-driving automobiles and drone deliveries. For South Korea, exporting high-resolution map information may enhance tourism, promote native companies, and drive good metropolis innovation, whereas giving the federal government leverage to implement safety safeguards. Critics, nonetheless, warn that the transfer might primarily profit U.S. tech giants moderately than home customers.

Google Maps has a broader world attain, masking 250 international locations and territories, whereas Apple Maps is obtainable in simply over 200 areas, per a report.