China: Last week we told you how China has released new regulations on maps which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Now, details have emerged that as a part of the new Order on the Regulation of Maps, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang wants companies to keep map data on servers within China’s borders. Deputy Director of China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping Li Weibin has said:
First, businesses providing geographic positioning services to the public must have a surveying and mapping license; second, servers hosting the large amounts of data generated by online maps must be within China’s borders; third, companies providing mobile map services must get the users’ permission before using their data. Companies also may not release, distort, or sell users’ information.
Fourth, if at any point during the data transfer process some data cannot be transferred, the server must immediately terminate the transfer and report the incident to the relevant surveying and mapping authority; and fifth, new enhanced features should be more closely scrutinized to ensure they do not reveal any information of importance to national security.
Source: BI
