Delivered on June 15, 2026
Is location data truly reliable? Spoofing and the reliability of geospatial data
Speakers:
Tomoaki Fujita, COO, LocationMind Inc.
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
We will be joined by Mr. Fujita from LocationMind to discuss the "reliability" of location data. We will ask him about the risks of location data manipulation through GNSS spoofing and jamming, the incentives for manipulation that arise in the private sector such as road tolls, logistics, and CO2 emission calculations, and the accuracy and traceability of geospatial data required in the age of AI and smart cities.
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The Challenges and Academic Background of LocationMind, a Startup Born Out of the University of Tokyo
LocationMind Inc. is a startup founded in 2019, originating from the Shibasaki Laboratory at the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, and continues to innovate at the forefront of the location information business. Particularly noteworthy are its strong organizational structure and academic background. Currently, the company has grown to over 100 employees, including contractors, and dozens of them are still graduates of the Shibasaki Laboratory. The company has an environment where cutting-edge research results and advanced mathematical algorithms originating from the university can be directly implemented in business settings. This combination of technical depth and academic expertise sets it apart from other typical location information-related companies, which is its greatest strength.
"Location Information Security" and the Threat of Tampering (Spoofing)
One of the themes the company is tackling is the new field of "location information security." Unlike traditional personal information protection and privacy assurance, this refers to an approach that verifies the "authenticity of the location information data itself." Modern society relies on GNSS signals (such as GPS) from satellites, but the threat of "spoofing"—the deception of receivers with intentionally altered, false signals—is increasing. As the economic value of location information grows, the company is pioneering next-generation location security that determines the authenticity of data.
Global Situation and Impact on Security and Civilian Infrastructure
Location information spoofing and jamming (electronic interference) are already serious issues that have manifested themselves on a global scale. In particular, since the Russia-Ukraine situation in 2022, they have become increasingly apparent worldwide due to defense purposes and the impact of wartime.
Spoofing makes it difficult for users to realize they are being deceived, causing them to mistakenly perceive themselves as being in a completely different location on the screen. Furthermore, because false signals are transmitted indiscriminately across an area, real damage to civilian infrastructure, such as loss of shipping routes and grounding of aircraft, is beginning to occur. In Japan, addressing the vulnerability of location information is an urgent necessity due to this potential risk.
Incentives and Economic Risks of Data Manipulation in the Private Sector
As social systems shift towards one where location information directly impacts monetary value and cost calculations, economic incentives for data manipulation are emerging in the private business sector.
Specifically, in the "GPS-based road tolling system" being implemented in Southeast Asia and other regions, there are concerns about fraudulent practices such as "evading tolls by pretending not to have driven." Furthermore, as location information is used to calculate and allocate CO2 emissions in collaborative delivery within the logistics industry, there are concerns about the risk of data manipulation to lower emissions figures. In an era where location information directly impacts a company's reputation and finances, sophisticated safeguards against fraud are essential.
A "Hardware and Software" Solution
To address this risk of falsification, LocationMind offers a powerful "two-pronged solution" that approaches the issue from both hardware and software perspectives.
The first pillar is a hardware-oriented "signal authentication" technology that verifies the authenticity of the signals from satellites on the receiver side. The company has also developed its own data collection devices incorporating this technology. The second pillar is software-oriented technology. In addition to analyzing past movement history, this involves cross-checking by combining it with "other data sources" such as camera video data and RFID detection records to retrospectively verify data integrity.
The Need for a Reliability Foundation in Promoting Autonomous Driving and Smart Cities
In the fields of autonomous driving and smart cities, where full-scale social implementation is expected in the future, ensuring the reliability of location information is a critical issue that will determine the success or failure of projects. This is because the control of autonomous vehicles and the optimization of urban mobility all depend on coordination with accurate geospatial data.
Spoofing attacks by malicious third parties can lead to vehicle misidentification and pose a risk of serious accidents. Because sophisticated location spoofing, which gradually deceives, is easily overlooked, secure design to prevent spoofing is necessary as a common industry standard for the safe operation of next-generation infrastructure utilizing AI (GeoAI).
Future Approaches to Procuring and Ensuring the Authenticity of Geospatial Data
The future envisioned by the company goes beyond simply protecting GPS data; it's a world where all "geospatial data linked to coordinates," including location information from smartphones, vehicles, ships, and aircraft, as well as satellite imagery and urban sensor footage, can be securely integrated and simulated.
However, the inclusion of inaccurate data renders the analysis worthless. To address this challenge, the company is fostering a shared understanding among data holders and the market as a whole that "unless authenticity can be proven, businesses will not be trusted," and continues its approach aimed at the healthy development of the data ecosystem.
Summary
This discussion highlighted the importance of reliability in location information supporting national-level infrastructure such as road tolls, CO2 calculations, and autonomous driving, as well as the need for technologies to counter the threat of spoofing. This "technology that can guarantee the accuracy of data" has the potential to evolve into essential social infrastructure (standards) in a future where autonomous driving and data-driven urban management are accelerating. The company's approach, which directly connects academic research findings with private business and provides a comprehensive solution from data acquisition to advanced spatial simulations, offers a new option for the future geospatial data market. It is expected that this approach will serve as a model case, further accelerating the development of technologies that enhance the overall reliability of location information and driving a bottom-up improvement in the market as a whole.