Restrictions on geographic data in China

Under Chinese law, the use of geographic information in the People's Republic of China is restricted to entities that have special authorization from the administrative department for surveying and mapping under the State Council.[1] Consequences of the restriction include fines for unauthorized surveys, lack of geotagging information on many cameras when the GPS chip detects a location within China, and incorrect alignment of street maps with satellite maps in various applications.[2]

Chinese lawmakers said that these restrictions are to "safeguard the security of China's geographic information".[3] Song Chaozhi, an official of the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, said "foreign organizations who wish to carry out mapping or surveying work within China must make clear that they will not touch upon state secrets or endanger state security".[3] Critics outside of China point out that the laws close critical sectors of the Chinese economy to foreign companies, and assist with cracking down on dissent.[3]

  1. ^ "Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China". National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation of China. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. ^ Rabaza Bergua, Carlos S.; López-de-Larrínzar-Galdámez, Juan; Salvador Suárez, Iván; Usón Montesinos, Miguel; Muro Medrano, Pedro R. (13 November 2013). Restricciones al trabajo con información geográfica online en China (PDF). IV Jornadas Ibéricas de Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Tecnológico Fábrica de Armas, Toledo: JIIDE 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "China revises mapping law to bolster territorial claims". Reuters. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2021.