Google To Rethink Mapping Over New Chinese Laws

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Google To Rethink Mapping Over New Chinese Laws [uk.reuters.com]

Google Inc said on Thursday it was examining the impact of a new set of Chinese regulations toward mapping on its Google Maps product in the country.China's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping announced new regulations last month that required firms providing online map and location services in the country to apply for a license.
The laws give China the right to close providers that fail to get a license, reported the official China Daily newspaper on Thursday.

"China recently implemented a wide-ranging set of rules relating to online mapping. We are examining the regulations to understand their impact on our maps products in China," a Google spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. Google did not say whether it had applied for a license.

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I don't even think Baidu was approved for a mapping license in China during the most recent round of approvals. It's a small number of companies that have cleared the initial hurdle.

Is Google trying to make this into a political statement too?