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China to Regulate Internet Map Publishing
hackingbear writes "After text, pictures, and videos, China starts regulating Internet map publishing (here is the google translation.) The government believes that Internet maps can represent the state's sovereignty and its political and diplomatic positions in the international community — and consequently, inaccurate maps could harm national interests and dignity, produce bad political influences, reveal national secrets and harm national security, in addition to harming consumer interests. So from now on, publishing maps would require approval and (yet another) license from the state survey bureau. That means Google, Yahoo, etc., need to remove China from the map; or maybe they just pay up some officials and their agents to acquire yet another license. And our newest 80Gbps DPI monsters need to be upgraded to identify maps together with porn."
Can a country do this?
Well, considering the Dick Cheney had his house obscured... I suppose the answer is yes. Actually with Google maps the US government has a number of areas blacked out for security reasons.
The borders go onto the map after the satellite takes the picture. Like, say, the border between China and Tibet.
rj
I do not believe the satellite based images are the main issue here.
The Chinese government objects to maps that depict certain regions as being separate sovereign countries, such as Tibet and Taiwan, which the Chinese government holds are both part of China.
This would be similar to a map being published that showed Alaska as a separate country, or as part of Canada, as opposed to it being part of the USA.
Actually, it was possible in US because Google is US based.
:) ), as if it is some person and not a corporation whose only thing they are looking for is more money for their shareholders.
China will be able to pull this off only because Google wants to do business there.
Let this be a reason for those who talk about "do no evil" and "Google" in same sentence (except me
If they want to wall off themselves from the world, then let them. If they don't want to use what a company from another country is doing, fine just block it if you want to (or can) but, quit bitching about everything we free people do outside your fucking borders.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
They aren't doing it more, they're just being caught doing it more often.
"On this spot in 1989, nothing happened".
...the US gov would just get one of the ministers in sweden to lean on their mate in the police force and raid their offices there.And thereby show that the US IS as bad as china and that, yes, other countries DO tell other companies what to do with online maps. The US government has problems, but can somebody explain to me why stories that have absolutely nothing to do with the US government still attract US gov flames? This story is about China's oppression and mentions the fact that it may have an impact on a couple of US businesses. How is the US government involved any more than Holland's or France's? Yes, most of Google's censored map areas are in the US, but other countries have made similar requests and had them granted. I'm sure China could too. But that's a whole different ball game than requiring licensing and approval for posting maps...
Ugh - Maybe I should just filter out ACs...
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.