The Chinese government will tighten control of map websites or services that provide online geographic information, fearing that these websites may accidentally reveal national security secrets.

Specifically, according to China Daily, eight government agencies, including the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will coordinate to monitor and manage geographic information posted online. There are currently about 10,000 online map websites operating in the land of the Great Wall.

However, in the near future, the majority of these sites will be closed for posting a map without permission, said Min Yiren, Deputy Director of the Cartography Department. " Some websites are even published. both sensitive or confidential geographic information, which can leak national secrets and threaten domestic security . "

A hotline has been created for people to inform authorities about unauthorized websites.

It is unclear whether international services like Google Earth or Google Maps are banned from China. Earlier, in order to be active in this market, the service provider had to commit to the supervision of Chinese authorities.

Put in the framework

China limited map website images 1 Source: AFP Last week, the Chinese government also closed dozens of websites offering online videos under a new regulation to tighten control of Internet content.

32 other websites, including the very popular video sharing website in China, tudou.com, also received a warning letter. "The Internet needs to be treated like other traditional communication channels, that is, there must be regulations and operational guidelines, " the agency's representative said.

Currently, only state-owned websites are allowed to provide and publish videos online.

As expected, from now until the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the authorities will also conduct more "clean up" Internet campaigns. The Chinese government's concern about online map websites is not without foundation.

Earlier this month, the US Department of Defense itself had to ask Google Maps to remove some "sensitive" images of a top secret military base in Texas.

The search giant was also " banned from filming and detailed description", " collecting two-dimensional images and 360-degree photos from space for military bases ," the Pentagon spokesman. said.