Data collected by Chinese navigation app AMap (高德地圖) could potentially be used to analyze not only societal patterns, but also the behaviors of individual users, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) said yesterday, adding that a cybersecurity risk assessment of the app would be released next month.
During a legislative session focused on artificial intelligence (AI) governance and digital transparency, officials from the ministry, the National Science and Technology Council and Academia Sinica were invited to present reports and answer questions, including those related to AMap.
Under the Cybersecurity Management Act (資通安全管理法), AMap is considered a product that poses a threat to national cybersecurity, so government agencies are prohibited from using it and a cybersecurity assessment has to be conducted, the ministry has said.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛億) said AMap relies on China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system and operates under Chinese laws that might require companies to share user data with authorities, which could pose significant risks to national security.
The app’s ability to collect and transmit location data could enable large-scale analysis of societal behavior if widely adopted, Wu said.
She also questioned whether aggregated data from Taiwanese users might be used to map not only general social patterns, but also individual lifestyles.
Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Hou Yi-hsiu (侯宜秀) said the data collected by the app could potentially be used to analyze collective social trends and detailed personal behavior patterns.
That dual-layered risk — affecting society and individual users — has prompted further scrutiny, Hou added.
Ministry officials confirmed that AMap is undergoing testing by cybersecurity authorities.
The evaluation focuses on several key areas, including whether the app accesses data in real time, whether it exceeds the permissions granted by users and whether it retrieves sensitive information such as health records or private communications, they said.
Officials said they are also examining whether the app assigns identifiers to individual devices, which could allow for long-term tracking or profiling of users.
Such practices, if confirmed, could enable the reconstruction of detailed personal movement patterns, they said.
DPP Legislator Chen Hsiu-pao (陳秀寶) said many products are being labeled as “AI,” but whether they truly have AI functions is questionable.
Chen suggested adopting a certification system similar to energy efficiency labeling.
The ministry said it would discuss and study the issue with relevant government agencies.
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