Amap Flagged for Security Concerns; MODA Warns of Lifestyle Profiling

The Chinese navigation app Amap (AutoNavi) has been flagged by Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) for potential cybersecurity risks. MODA recently prohibited government agencies from using the app and stated today that Amap's data collection could analyze not just general social patterns, but the lifestyle habits of individual users. A security evaluation report will be published in May.

Amap features detailed 3D street views and countdown timers for traffic lights. However, MODA classified it as a product that endangers national information security under the Cyber Security Management Act. During a legislative hearing today, DPW legislator Wu Pei-yi supported the ban, noting that Amap uses China's Beidou satellite system and that Chinese law requires private companies to cooperate with government data collection, posing a significant risk to Taiwan.

MODA Deputy Minister Hou Yi-shiu stated that based on available information, there are risks that individual user lifestyles could be profiled. Officials confirmed that the National Institute of Cyber Security is conducting tests. These tests include examining what data is read in real-time, whether it bypasses user permissions to access health or chat records, and if data is sent abroad without authorization. Device IDs may also be tagged, potentially allowing for the tracking of individuals' life trajectories.