[토픽] [7/2 Debate Topic] Google's demand for uncensored map ignores Korean situation loading

[Ben Goodboy]

Google's demand for uncensored map ignores Korean situation loading

A tug-of-war is continuing between the Korean government and Google over the company's demand to use the nation's geographic data abroad for commercial purposes.

The world's largest Internet company insists it needs an uncensored map to expand map-related services covering all of Korea. The Seoul government says it cannot let all location information on national security facilities be shown abroad.

Google asked the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) to approve its plan to provide Korea's geographic data services overseas, on June 1. The company made a similar request to National Intelligence Service in January 2007 but was turned down. The government plans to decide whether to allow it by Aug. 25.

The government has maintained that it could provide the data only if Google deleted information related to national security facilities or agreed to Korea managing the use of personal data and national security-related information.

"All other Internet businesses, including Naver, Kakao and SK Planet, have done so," an official said. "We cannot provide the privilege of using data with no such strings attached only for Google."

Google wants access to undeleted geographic images of Korea to enhance services related to Google Maps, including location-based advertisements and automobile navigation services. Global map data are also indispensable in developing autonomous vehicles and operating systems for automobiles, both of which are among Google's future growth engines, according to industry experts.

According to Google, however, these services are impossible in Korea because the map Google uses now is inaccurate and has no regional information on streets and stores. "We want the same map as that used by Naver and other Korean companies," a company official said.

But the government's stance on this request appears to be firm.

"In the satellite photos already provided by Google, all the facilities of national security, including Cheong Wa Dae and military installations, are exposed," said Choe Byong-nam, director general of NGII. "If they combine satellite photos and large-scale maps, exact locations and outlooks of security facilities are exposed on the Internet, and we cannot let this happen."

Choe said all of Google's Korean counterparts, including Naver, Kakao and SK Planet, were either not showing these facilities on their maps or had deleted such photos.

Some industry executives say there would be no problems if Google would move to Korea its server that stores and provides data. "If Google brings its server to Korea, it will not have to take data out of this country," said an industry executive. "It can use the data under the government's supervision."

Google has data centers and servers in the United States, the Netherlands, Singapore and Taiwan, but not in Korea, and Koreans connect to these overseas servers through the Internet.

Experts say the relocation of a Google server to Korea could also resolve taxation problems.

Google has more than 1 trillion won ($8.3 billion) annual sales in Korea, but pays almost no corporate taxes to the host government, slipping through the loophole that Seoul cannot impose taxes as long as a foreign company's business equipment, such as a server, is not here, however much revenue it makes in the nation, they say.

"It is an expedient of sorts that Google, while conducting business activities in Korea and making revenue, is free from tax payment and government controls just because the company is not operating its server here," said Professor Chung Wook-hyeon of Sogang University.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2016/06/123_206840.html

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Google wants South Korea to ease restrictions on mapping service

[Courtesy of Google Playstore]

By Park Sae-jin

Following its controversial pullout from China, global search engine Google is locked in a fresh fight in South Korea to break through what it described as discriminative restrictions on its mapping service.

Outside South Korea, which is in technically at war with North Korea, Google using servers scattered across the world provides almost unrestricted Map services, covering sensitive features even in North Korea such as its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, but it cannot do so in South Korea because of its draconian security law.

The law, which has been used to curb pro-North Korean activities, bans unauthorized exports of map data to data centers outside South Korea. It also requires Google's branch in South Korea to have sensitive items blur, such as military installations, nuclear power stations and the office of President Park Geun-hye.

South Korea's top search and mapping service Naver follows government guidelines, using government-supplied maps to conceal sensitive installations. Google's influence in South Korea is far behind Naver because of restrictions.

The law blocks companies from exporting government-supplied map data to be used by Google to offer features such as driving directions, public transit information and satellite maps.

On Wednesday South Korean government officials were to hold a meeting chaired by President Park that may include a related topic.

"In South Korea, Google hopes to provide its innovative mapping service which is available across the world," Kwon Bom-jun, a Google software engineer in charge of map production, said in a statement.

South Korea must listen to complaints by Chinese and Japanese tourists who cannot use Google's proper mapping service here, he said, suggesting Seoul should ease restrictions to provide convenience to foreign visitors during the 2018 Winter Olympics in the eastern sky resort of Pyeongchang.

Google has balked at a request from government officials to put one of its data servers in South Korea for its mapping service and abide by government guidelines, insisting users abroad could see sensitive facilities through mapping services provided by competitors.

The tussle has hampered Google's efforts to roll out better services, including real-time traffic information, 3-D maps and driving directions. Government officials, however, want Google not to disclose sensitive locations even for overseas users.

"Navigation features are available in China, Russia and even North Korea," Kwon said.

In China, Google ended its service in 2010, after it detected multiple hacking attempts using its exclusive source code. 

But Google's Map application is pre-installed in most of its Android-OS smartphones, providing navigation features to Chinese users. Such features are available in regions which restrict Google's search support.

Aju News Park Sae-jin and Lim Chang-won

http://eng.ajunews.com/view/20160518152626761