Illegal Chinese maps to face 200,000 RMB fines

[Randy W]

from CCTV'S Facebook page. Of course, a lot of expats will tell you that Facebook itself is "illegal" in China, so take this with a grain of whatever as to what the law actually means.

 

https://www.facebook.com/cctvnewschina/posts/1092896820751137

 

Regulation of PRC on Administration of Maps

 

Illegal Chinese maps to face 200,000 RMB fines

 

A new regulation specifies that people are not allowed to enter or exit the country with wrong Chinese maps. Posting, presenting or publishing wrong maps is also a violation of the new regulation. The new rules, part of ‘The Regulation of People’s Republic of China on Administration of Maps’, were passed on November 11 and will take effect from the first date of 2016.

 

Geographic maps are of great political, scientific and legal importance, as they draw the territory of a country, directly reflecting its national sovereignty and political views, said a statement released by the State Council, China's cabinet.

 

Meanwhile, security supervision must also be strengthened as violations, such as errors in compilation, leaks of secret geographic information and personal information, have occurred frequently in recent years.

 

As for the content displayed on the map, the new regulation covers both national security and information about local customs.
The new regulation also covers the relatively young industry of online maps. With the GPS embedded in cars and traffic information changing, more people increasingly rely on online maps, which can be updated in ‘real-time’. Under the new regulation, online maps are required to set up the server inside the country. Any networking company offering the service of GPS map location has to acquire a cartography certificate.

 

According to the regulation, people who do not follow the regulation will be liable to a fine of up to 200, 000 yuan. If the case constitutes a crime, criminal responsibility could also follow.

 

With the date of the implementation approaching, it has attracted widespread attention on Chinese social media.

 

“Which institute is responsible for supervising?” asked @Gushicongjintiankaishi.

 

“The server should be set up domestically, which does not mean limiting the content. The regulation on mapping information is quite relevant to safety,” commented @LengziyeLZY.

 

 

 

The Shanghaiist's spin - http://shanghaiist.com/2015/12/17/dont_get_caught_with_wrong_maps.php