Rumor: Chinese Government to Investigate Google Maps
Sina Tech, 10/26/10
China's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) will begin reorganizing China's online mapping market at the end of this year or early 2011, according to a source within the SBSM. The SBSM, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) will investigate online mapping services that continue to operate without an online mapping service license. The SBSM will also require online mapping products to clearly display their license numbers.
Regarding whether Google Maps will be licensed, the source said that Google Maps has already confirmed it cannot obtain one for two reasons. First, according to the Revised Standards Pertaining to the Online Mapping Services Industry issued in May, map servers must be based within mainland China - Google's are not. Second, according to the 2007 Provisional Regulations on the Management of Surveying and Mapping by Foreign Organizations or Individuals, foreign survey work must be conducted through a joint venture with a Chinese government agency or work unit.
Keywords: government policy Google Maps online mapping Internet license Google MIIT SAIC State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping regulation
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