> Industrial News > News   China Demands Strengthened Supervision on Web Maps and Geographic Information Service Websites   On February 25, the Opinion on Strengthening Supervision of Web Maps and Geographic Information Service Websites (hereinafter referred to as Opinion) was jointly released by eight Chinese government departments, namely the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Information Industry, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, General Administration of Press and Publication, State Council Information Office, and State Secrecy Bureau, upon the consent of the State Council. Opinion demands the eight departments further strengthen the supervision of web maps and geographic information service websites. Certificate of Surveying and Mapping Qualification and Internet Publishing License are required to perform web map compilation activities. Foreign organizations or individuals are not allowed to compile or publish web maps in China. Comment: Three months after the significant NO.7 regulation was issued by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, the eight Chinese government departments jointly issue opinion to further regulate activities related to web maps and geographic information service websites. Opinion iterates that foreign organizations and individuals are prohibited from performing map compilation activities. In addition, the opinion stresses that domestic companies shall get Certificate of Surveying and Mapping Qualification and Internet Publishing License before conducting map related activities. At present, China has only 11 A-Class state certified digital map suppliers, but 595 geographic information service websites scatter in the China market, which implies mad need and great challenge of supervision. According to the latest research of the authoritative research firm SBD, only AutoNavi Software and Beijing Lingtu Software of the aforementioned 11 map suppliers in China are directly providing web-based geographic information services via their own websites.   Time:2008-04-11 Source:NaviForum Shanghai News Center Relative