Chinese ban online mapping too
27 Mar 2008 | 12:47 GMT
Can't be much left unbanned
NOW, NOT ONLY do the Chinese have a problem with foreign media services, they also have a bone to pick with online mapping websites. On Thursday, Chinese state media said that it would crack down on sites showing unapproved maps lest they pose a risk to national security.
Government agencies, including the foreign ministry, have been told to hike up their levels of regulation on geographical information available on the Internet. According to AFP there are about 10,000 online map sites in China of which most have not received any official approval. Deputy director with the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, Min Yiren, reckoned that closing these sites down would be necessary as "some websites publish sensitive or confidential geographical information, which might leak state secrets and threaten security".
An informant hotline has been set up by the government so that the public can squeal on any illegal mapping websites they might happen to come across.
Of course, its not only the actual mapping, but also the labeling which causes China concern. For example, the communist super state will also attempt to remove or block any sites it finds referring to Taiwan as being independent from China. China’s countrymapping bureau also threatened that foreigners who carried out illegal mapping surveys, or published geographical information on China without consent would be "severely punished".µ
L’Inq
AFP
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