The data provider for Apple Maps in China has reportedly begun blurring more than just military facilities, leaving Apple in the wake of another potential mapping-related scandal.
After decades of building up supply chains and manufacturing in China, Apple is not new to dealing with the controversial authoritarian regime running the country. The latest problem to emerge echoes other recent troubles Apple has faced in the United States.
According to the BBC, Apple Maps has begun blurring locations throughout China. However, while the primary function of the blurred locations appears to be military-related, some are tied to detention facilities linked to alleged human rights abuses.
It isn't hard to find a blurred location in China. Just zoom around any major city and you'll likely chance across one of the enormous blurry blobs.
Apparently the blurring doesn't occur if you are inside of China. This is likely related to China only concerning itself with hiding secret information from non-Chinese citizens.
Apple's only comment on the matter is that the company providing local map data must comply with local laws. The service is called AMap, now owned by Alibaba, and is referred to as Gaode in China.
Google, Bing, and Baidu do not blur the detention facilities, at least not yet. The AMap Global app owned by the same company that provides Apple Maps data in China also hasn't blurred the areas.
It isn't clear if Apple is being proactive in blurring the military facilities and alleged detention centers, or if the backend push reached Apple ahead of other mapping apps. In any case, as Apple said in its statement, it must comply with local laws and regulations.
Similar things occurred when the United States President signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario. Both entities didn't change in Apple Maps until the GNIS database was updated.
As always, whether we are talking about China, the United States, Russia, the EU, or Britain, Apple must follow the law. It is not a corporation's job to rise up against corrupt or overreaching government entities.
