Google Maps China: Don’t Look at Me

Posted on May 9, 2008
Filed Under Apparatchiks, China Internet |

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) China receives basic geographic data from official mapping companies, and is in frequent contact with government officials regarding online mapping regulations, reports New Express quoting a Google China spokesperson. Google China purchases geographic data from Beijing-based online map company MapABC (mapabc.com), which is licensed by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, said the report. Previous reports claimed that Google China and Sohu’s (Nasdaq: SOHU) Sogou maps revealed confidential Chinese geography. The Chinese government began investigating the online mapping industry in April.

As I mentioned in a comment yesterday, I fully expect that China-based content providers will rush to make sure they meet whatever standards the government has set.

In any case, it would seem that Google had a CYA strategy in place. I wonder if they’ve done anything similar for Google Earth. No one has spotted nuclear submarines in a while.