Street View security processing emerges as key issue
Industry: “Monitoring system needed to verify Google's data usage”

Google's process for exporting high-precision maps overseas is expected to begin in earnest as early as this month. Industry and academic circles anticipate that after Chuseok, the government and experts will start reviewing whether Google meets the conditions for exporting high-precision maps. The industry emphasized the need for a system to thoroughly verify that the high-precision map data Google takes does not get used for purposes beyond its original intent, such as autonomous driving training.

On the 22nd, multiple industry sources said, “After Chuseok, Google is expected to submit an official response document. We understand that a task force (TF) will first review it, followed by a meeting of the overseas export consultation body for survey results.”

Earlier this month, Google began blurring satellite images of military facilities and the DMZ area in its domestic map service. This is interpreted as a preemptive measure to meet the conditions set by the South Korean government for exporting high-precision maps.

In February, the government conditionally approved the overseas export of 1:5,000 scale high-precision maps. The prerequisites included image security processing, coordinate display restrictions, use of domestic servers, and post-processing through domestic companies. Google's response document is expected to outline how these conditions will be fulfilled. Once the document is received, the government plans to technically review the feasibility of these conditions with experts.

The industry views 'Street View' as a potential issue during the expert review process. While Street View itself is not subject to security processing under the Spatial Information Management Act, it may contain point-of-interest (POI) and security-identifiable information, raising concerns depending on overseas processing methods.

There are also calls to verify whether Google uses high-precision map data for purposes beyond its original intent. In February, the government approved the export of high-precision map data with the condition that only limited data necessary for navigation and route-finding services be exported. However, the industry is concerned that Google might use the exported data for autonomous driving technology training. Therefore, there are calls for a monitoring system to check how Google actually uses the high-precision map data.

An industry official stated, “It is necessary to verify whether high-precision map data is properly processed in a closed network environment and how much of the map data sent to overseas servers is distributed and used in specific regions. A transparent system is needed to allow domestic experts to know how the high-precision map data is utilized.”