Data sovereignty and security are non-negotiable. Academics have united in opposition to Google’s request to export high-precision map data from South Korea. They cautioned that the export of such detailed cartographic information could pose a significant security risk to the divided Korean peninsula.
On Tuesday, Information Technology (IT) industry sources reported that Professor Ahn Jung Sang, an adjunct professor at Chung-Ang University’s Graduate School of Communication, published a report titled “Google’s Unilateral Demand for High-Precision Map Export: Rejection is the Correct Response” on July 13.
In February, Google petitioned the South Korean government for authorization to transfer high-precision map data, scaled at 1:5,000, to overseas data centers. This level of detail allows for the identification of individual alleyways, with 50 meters (about 0.03 miles) of real-world distance represented by just 1 centimeter (about 0.4 inches) on the map.
Professor Ahn argued that Google’s request is not simply about improving map services, but rather a strategic move to expand revenue streams through location-based advertising and autonomous vehicle technology. He urged the government to stand firm in rejecting the proposal.
He emphasized that South Korea’s unique security situation, given its ongoing military standoff with North Korea, sets it apart from other nations. He stressed that domestically generated geospatial data, funded by taxpayers, is a public asset that the government has a duty to safeguard as a matter of national information sovereignty.
Professor Ahn further noted that Google’s claims of enhancing tourism and driving industrial innovation lack credibility, pointing out that domestic firms and some foreign companies already provide adequate services using 1:25,000 scale maps.
He warned that approving Google’s request could trigger similar demands from other tech giants like Apple and Baidu, as well as global automotive manufacturers. This could potentially devastate the domestic geospatial information industry and undermine the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Indeed, SMEs comprise over 98% of South Korea’s geospatial information sector, which generates an annual market value exceeding 11 trillion KRW (approximately 7.97 billion USD).
Google maintains its stance on transferring data overseas without submitting to government security oversight, refusing to establish local servers or data centers in South Korea.
Professor Ahn suggested that this position likely stems from Google’s desire to circumvent domestic regulations and tax obligations. He emphasized that the export of high-precision maps should not even be considered unless Google commits to building domestic server infrastructure.
In a similar vein, Professor Lee Jeong Hyun, a visiting professor in the Department of Intelligent Information Security at Seoul Women’s University, argued in a May contribution to the Korea Internet Self-Governance Organization (KISO) that South Korea must firmly reject Google’s request, given the nation’s distinct security challenges.
Professor Lee contended that allowing foreign entities like Google to store and control such sensitive data would severely hamper the government’s ability to respond to security breaches, such as the exposure of military installations.
This concern is not unfounded. The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has reportedly been waiting over three years for a response from Google regarding its request to apply low-resolution treatment to critical national security sites visible on Google Earth.
The South Korean government faces an August 11 deadline to respond to Google’s high-precision map export request.
