South Korea allows Google Maps to operate again after years of strict restrictions.

(CLO) South Korea has allowed Google to export detailed map data overseas, paving the way for Google Maps to fully operate after nearly 20 years of restrictions due to security concerns.

The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the decision was made on the condition that strict security requirements were met.

Accordingly, military facilities and sensitive locations must be blurred on maps. The display of longitude and latitude coordinates of South Korean territory on products such as Google Earth is also restricted.

Illustration photo: Unsplash

The approved data has a scale of 1:5000, meaning that 1 cm on the map corresponds to 50 meters in the field. Google argues that it is necessary to upload detailed map data to a global server system to provide full real-time directions and navigation services for users inside and outside South Korea.

According to the terms and conditions, Google must store and process detailed map data on servers located in South Korea. Only the data used for navigation and directions, after approval from the South Korean government , is allowed to be transferred overseas for integration into the company's global system.

Previously, South Korea had rejected similar proposals from Google in 2007 and 2016 due to concerns about the risk of military and security information leaks.

Google's Vice President, Cris Turner, welcomed the decision and expressed his desire to continue working with local officials to bring Google Maps to full operation in South Korea.

James Kim, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (Amcham), assessed this as a positive signal regarding the commitment to innovation, open markets, and a level playing field for global businesses operating in the country.

Source: https://congluan.vn/han-quoc-cho-phep-google-maps-hoat-dong-sau-nhieu-nam-siet-chat-10332188.html