Forty Percent of S.Korea’s Military Installations Exposed by Google Maps

A South Korean lawmaker on Sunday accused Google Maps of exposing 40 percent of country’s military installations as satellite images, including crucial fighter wings.

“About 40 percent of all military installations here are exposed as satellite images on Google Maps,” Rep. Park Kwang-on of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said,  citing a document received from Ministry of National Defense.

Google has reportedly been ignoring South Korean government’s request of blurring sensitive data from the satellite map since the early 2000s.

“Exterior regulations should be established to prevent such foreign companies from exposing information that could threaten the security of the country,” Rep. Park was quoted as saying by local media.

Seoul-based portal sites such as Naver delete all information considered as state secret from their map services. “Google, however, uses servers outside of Korea and is not subject to Korean law,” the lawmaker said.

The facilities revealed include the Air Force’s 17th Fighter Wing, where F-35A stealth fighters are stationed, and the 15th Special Activity Wing, where the airport for presidential aircraft and state guests is located. The exact number of installations exposed has not been revealed because it is a military secret.