Google complies with S. Korea's security requirements for high-precision map data: gov't

Detailed summary

By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Friday that ...

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Friday that Google has complied with security requirements imposed as a condition for allowing the transfer of high-precision map data overseas.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said a government-led consultation body reviewed Google's implementation of security measures following its conditional approval in February to export 1:5,000-scale digital map data.

The review found that the global tech giant had implemented measures to prevent the exposure of geographic coordinates, as well as sensitive military and security facilities, on its global Google Maps and Google Earth services, including web and mobile platforms.

To meet the requirements, Google developed a dedicated control system for South Korea and introduced safeguards to block app updates if they risk exposing restricted geographic coordinates.

In August, Google also signed an agreement to obtain satellite imagery processed for security purposes by the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) through a local partner.

Under the agreement, Google must replace existing imagery on its map services as soon as it receives the security-processed images, without making any modifications.

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