NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Major Risks in Apple's New "Remote Camera Disabling" Patent Application
Major Risks in Apple's New "Remote Camera Disabling" Patent Application http://j.mp/mjtppP (This message on Google Buzz) - - - Let's keep in mind that all sorts of nonsense is patented all the time, much that shouldn't have been patented in the first place ( Ref: "Stop the Patent Process Madness": http://j.mp/cYeqEz [Wired] ) and many concepts that despite being patented will never see actual realization. But still, Apple's newly revealed patent application for using infrared (IR) signals to control camera operations potentially opens up a can of worms of gigantic proportions, especially since a major part of the patent is devoted to using IR signals to *prohibit* or otherwise limit/control photography in specified areas: http://j.mp/mvOdzZ (New York Times) This aspect of the patent application seems to focus on concert/theater venues and such, but the range of ways that such technology could be abused is obvious and vast. Just replace "theater" with anyone, anywhere, who has an interest in preventing video documentation of their activities -- legit or not. And since such a mechanism would of course only prohibit recording or otherwise impact devices that implement the Apple scheme, how long would it be before we heard calls to *require* such control technology on all video (and perhaps other) photographically capable devices? Otherwise, what's the point, right? Why would most people willingly buy a device -- especially the persons that such control regimes would be designed to target -- that would put such restrictions on their activities -- if there were reasonable "non-controlled" alternatives they could purchase instead. Keep your eyes on this one. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org Founder: - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Google Buzz: http://j.mp/laurenbuzz Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com