According to a NYTimes report, Apple has killed the GPS feature of their iPhone 3G smartphone for the Egyptian market.
The decision was made because the Egyptian government feared the feature would create a national security risk. The government added that the technology should remain limited to military applications.
Critics of the move note correctly that "Google Maps is capable of giving would-be terrorists a bird’s eye view of sensitive government locations" and that the GPS is not even on that level.
Arvind Ganesan, director of the business and human rights program of Human Rights Watch, adds: “Here is the big question for Apple: Is this an ad-hoc approach or is there a fundamental policy, balancing the freedom of expression and information with the demands of the government?”
Good question.
Critics of the move note correctly that "Google Maps is capable of giving would-be terrorists a bird’s eye view of sensitive government locations" and that the GPS is not even on that level.
Arvind Ganesan, director of the business and human rights program of Human Rights Watch, adds: “Here is the big question for Apple: Is this an ad-hoc approach or is there a fundamental policy, balancing the freedom of expression and information with the demands of the government?”
Good question.
