As new technologies emerge, they can sometimes have unintended consequences which is exactly what US Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) had to say about Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s new mapping services. The Senator has said that the new maps have the capability of gathering “highly sensitive” imaging that could lead to privacy breaches. The Senator also said that the maps have the capability of aiding terrorism as well.
According to Mikey Campbell of Appleinsider.com, The Senator called the new mapping services “spy planes” however, didn’t mean that in the sense of military technology. However, what is important to note is that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is developing its new iOS Maps app through a mapping company called C3 Technologies. What you may not know is that C3 Technologies was once a part of Saab AB’s defense department and does use “once-classified” military targeting technology. So, in a way, the Senator was not far off when he called the map apps spy planes.
The scary part about this is that people will be able to get a very clear picture of you and what you are doing even in places where you think you would be safe such as your home. I strongly doubt that the US government is going to stand aside while this product is being created. Expect an investigation or some sort of “dumbed down” version to appear out rather than the maps that use military technologies. “Barbequing or sunbathing in your backyard shouldn’t be a public event. People should be free from the worry of some high-tech peeping Tom technology violating one’s privacy when in your own home,” said the Senator
If a Senator if warning that a product could be used to aid terrorism, expect this to be a foreshadow of further government influence over these maps. Apple and Google may try to alter the maps to avoid government interference at all which would be wiser of the tech giants.
The bottom line here is that technology is advancing at a rapid speed. Unfortunately, some of the capabilities of these new technologies can help aid terror and other threats to the safety of American citizens. Like I said before, if the US government truly agrees or believes there is a chance that Senator Schumer’s comments could be true, they will shut it down. Quite frankly, military technology (even declassified) has no business being used by the general public there is simply just too much that could go wrong.
