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South Korea Postpones Decision on Google’s Map Data Export Request

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South Korea has once again delayed its decision on Google’s request to export detailed map data, saying it will wait until the company provides additional documentation required for review, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Tuesday.

The ministry’s National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) has given Google 60 business days — until February 5, 2026 — to submit the necessary materials before a final ruling is made.

The request involves Google’s plan to transfer 1:5,000-scale map data — equivalent to 50 meters per centimeter — to servers outside the country. Google says this level of detail is necessary for accurate navigation services, comparable to those offered by domestic firms Kakao Corp and Naver.

South Korea previously rejected similar requests from Google in 2007 and 2016, citing national security concerns about storing sensitive geographical data overseas.

In September, Google said it would comply with South Korea’s security requirements, including ensuring that coordinate data for locations within the country are not displayed to users inside or outside South Korea and agreeing to blur images of security-sensitive facilities.

However, the ministry stated that Google has not yet submitted an updated application reflecting these commitments. The inconsistencies between the company’s previous statements and its formal submissions have complicated the review process.

The dispute comes as Seoul and Washington continue talks on trade and security agreements, adding geopolitical weight to the outcome of Google’s mapping request.

US-UAE AI Data Campus Deal Faces Delays Amid Security Concerns

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A multi-billion dollar agreement to establish one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence data center hubs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains far from finalized, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. Despite its high-profile announcement during President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Abu Dhabi, persistent U.S. security concerns continue to stall progress.

The planned 10-square-mile AI campus is being spearheaded by G42, an Emirati state-linked technology firm central to the UAE’s AI ambitions. Major U.S. technology firms including Nvidia, OpenAI, Cisco, Oracle, and Japan’s SoftBank have signed on to help develop the first phase, called Stargate UAE, which is scheduled to become operational in 2026.

The project’s backers have touted it as a significant step toward steering Gulf nations toward U.S. technology and away from Chinese alternatives. However, five sources involved in the discussions told Reuters that U.S. officials remain deeply concerned about potential technology transfers to China and the UAE’s ability to enforce strict export controls.

Although the UAE pledged during Trump’s visit to align its national security regulations with Washington — including measures to prevent diversion of U.S.-origin technology — American officials remain cautious. These concerns mirror those raised during both the Biden and Trump administrations, particularly over the UAE’s previous deployment of Huawei 5G infrastructure despite U.S. objections.

Sources indicated that the U.S. Commerce Department has yet to determine the security protocols required for exporting advanced Nvidia AI chips critical to the project. The absence of an agreed enforcement mechanism further complicates the deal, leaving it without a definitive timeline for completion.

Among the likely U.S. conditions are prohibitions on Chinese technology at the site and restrictions on employing Chinese nationals, given ongoing fears of AI chip smuggling and intellectual property leaks to adversaries. While the UAE has dismantled some Chinese partnerships—such as G42 removing Chinese hardware and divesting from certain Chinese holdings under Biden administration pressure—Chinese firms like Huawei and Alibaba Cloud still maintain a strong presence in the country.

Adding to U.S. unease is the UAE’s growing role as a hub for companies circumventing Western sanctions on Russia, further complicating Washington’s strategic calculus. Despite these challenges, both Trump administration officials and some in the current administration remain committed to pursuing the deal, though bipartisan skepticism remains strong in Congress.

Once operational, Stargate UAE is expected to house roughly 100,000 advanced Nvidia Grace Blackwell GB300 AI chips within a 1-gigawatt facility — potentially expanding to 5 gigawatts in the future. The Emirati government has so far not commented on the latest delays, and no final agreement has been reached on technology controls or operational oversight.

South Korea Blocks DeepSeek Amid Security Concerns, Following Global Warnings

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South Korea’s industry ministry has temporarily blocked employee access to the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, marking the latest move by governments to restrict the use of certain AI services. A ministry official confirmed on Wednesday that the ban was implemented in response to growing apprehension surrounding generative AI technologies.

On Tuesday, the South Korean government issued a notice urging caution among ministries and agencies regarding the use of AI services such as DeepSeek and ChatGPT in work-related tasks. The notice followed earlier actions by state-run entities, with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power confirming it had blocked access to DeepSeek earlier this month.

The country’s defense ministry also took action, blocking access to DeepSeek on military computers, while the foreign ministry restricted its use on devices connected to external networks, according to Yonhap News Agency. However, the foreign ministry did not provide further details regarding the specific security measures taken.

DeepSeek, which was not immediately available for comment, joins a growing list of companies facing scrutiny over potential security risks. Both Australia and Taiwan have recently banned the AI service from government devices, citing similar security concerns. In January, Italy’s data protection authority ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot after the company failed to address privacy issues raised by regulators.

In addition to government actions, private companies in South Korea are also taking precautions. Kakao Corp, a major South Korean chat app operator, instructed employees to refrain from using DeepSeek due to security fears, particularly following its partnership with OpenAI. Other South Korean tech giants, including SK Hynix and Naver, have also restricted or limited access to generative AI services, citing concerns about data security and privacy.

The scrutiny of DeepSeek follows the company’s claim that its AI models are on par with or superior to products developed in the U.S., while being significantly cheaper to produce. South Korea’s information privacy watchdog has announced plans to inquire with DeepSeek about its user data management practices, adding another layer of regulatory attention on the Chinese startup.