Google parent Alphabet Inc. is challenging the South Korean government over restrictions to its mapping services in the country, which renders some maps less informative than those for North Korea.

Google contends that South Korea’s national-security laws, which were designed to protect the country against infiltration from North Korea, are outdated and unfairly inhibit the company’s ability to offer the full range of its Google Map services in South Korea.

The unusual case represents a reversal of sorts: Elsewhere in the world, especially in Europe, governments are trying to curb Google’s influence.

The European Union last month charged Google with allegedly abusing the dominance of its Android mobile-operating system to push phone makers and telecommunications companies to favor Google apps on their devices.

In South Korea, though, Google is challenging the government. South Korea is among a handful of countries where Google isn’t the No. 1 search engine, alongside China and Russia.