Apple alters Maps and Weather to show Crimea as a Russian territory

[NY Guitarist]

"When used within Russia, Apple’s Maps and Weather apps now list Crimea as being a Russian territory. The move, reported by BBC News, is the latest example of Apple kowtowing to a government’s demands to keep its devices and services in good standing. The company faced significant criticism in October for removing the Taiwanese flag emoji from the iOS keyboard in Hong Kong."

https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/27/20985762/apple-maps-weather-apps-crimea-russia-territory

 

[paulCC]

Apple was in a difficult situation - the Putin regime will not hesitate to charge some hapless Apple employee in Russia with terorism charges, they have already done it several times to people who just posted online about Crimea.
I would have liked Apple take a bold step - remove all its employees from Russia, and/or display a white rectangle where Crimea is on the map. "hic sunt leones".

 

[DeadeyeM]

Apple has done it again, the greed. TimChina TimRussia TimCommunist?

 

[levander]

I don’t know why people expect Apple to be social activists. I pay Apple to make computers. Not world peace.

All that’s gonna happen if Apple sticks it to the Russian government or the Chinese government, or whatever government, in whatever trivial way Apple can, is that government is gonna stick it back to Apple. And management at the company we want to be busy making computers for us is going to be busy bickering with foreign governments over lines on a map, keyboard emojis...

I get why Cook is spending so much time in the news with Trump. That whole US/China trade agreement thing impacts Apple significantly. But keyboard emojis? The labeling of territorial disputes? Apple damn well better find the easiest way to make it a non-issue and move on.

As many problems as there were with iOS 13, I would be so ticked if I saw Tim Cook in the news bickering with Vladimir Putin over how Crimea should be drawn on a map.

 

[chrono1081]

Apple has done it again, the greed. TimChina TimRussia TimCommunist?

Nope. When you sell software in certain countries you have to abide by their laws. There are people whose sole job is to go over these kinds of things before an international software release. It isn’t some kind of crazy conspiracy theory, they’re simply following the law.

 

[Marsikus]

When you sell software in certain countries you have to abide by their laws.

I would be so ticked if I saw Tim Cook in the news bickering with Vladimir Putin over how Crimea should be drawn on a map.

Just imagine all the weird forms of this conformism in regards to Nazi Germany, if Apple existed during WWII. Apple Maps showing a map of the Third Reich over all Europe, for example.

 

[levander]

Just imagine all the weird forms of this conformism in regards to Nazi Germany, if Apple existed during WWII. Apple Maps showing a map of the Third Reich over all Europe, for example.

You live in a strange, politically religious world.

 

[decafjava]

Apple has done it again, the greed. TimChina TimRussia TimCommunist?

FFS, Russia is no longer communist (authoritarian yes but then even "democratic" countries aren't really anymore) and China is also capitalist dressed in communist wrapping.

 

[Marsikus]

You live in a strange, politically religious world.

I am from Ukraine, where Russia has seized the Crimea, turned two regions into black holes full of their militaries, proxy mercenaries and terrorists. And Russia did this with many neighbouring countries from post-soviet company and plans more of that. Any surprise, why inhumane totalitarian despots are usually making friends with Russia? Any more questions?
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FFS, Russia is no longer communist (authoritarian yes but then even "democratic" countries aren't really anymore) and China is also capitalist dressed in communist wrapping.

They still have the same mindset.

 

[decafjava]

I am from Ukraine, where Russia has seized the Crimea, turned two regions into black holes full of their militaries, proxy mercenaries and terrorists. And Russia did this with many neighbouring countries from post-soviet company and plans more of that. Any surprise, why inhumane totalitarian despots are usually making friends with Russia? Any more questions?
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They still have the same mindset.

Okay, point taken - in fact it's worse in that minimal social protection that existed back then is gone.

BTW what do Apple (and Google for that matter) show for the Crimea when accessed in Ukraine?

 

[levander]

I am from Ukraine, where Russia has seized the Crimea, turned two regions into black holes full of their militaries, proxy mercenaries and terrorists. And Russia did this with many neighbouring countries from post-soviet company and plans more of that. Any surprise, why inhumane totalitarian despots are usually making friends with Russia? Any more questions?
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They still have the same mindset.

I understand much of the world is run by tyrants. But Apple refusing to alter maps to reflect political realities that have existed for many years now isn’t going to help anything. And it could hurt Apple because governments will be wondering how much they want Apple in their country with them all running around making political statements and what-not.

I think the people in those areas are better served by an Apple that’s willing to accept political realities so that Apple products are still readily available to the people in those areas. Russia isn’t going to withdraw from Crimea if Apple refuses to redraw borders. But they very well could increase tariffs on Apple products, pricing a lot of people out of being able to buy Apple products.

I just think you’re calling the wrong people up on the phone. You want the international affairs department, not the computer manufacturer department.

 

[Marsikus]

Okay, point taken - in fact it's worse in that minimal social protection that existed back then is gone.

BTW what do Apple (and Google for that matter) show for the Crimea when accessed in Ukraine?

From inside of Ukraine:
- Apple maps clearly shows that Crimea is Ukraine.
- Google Maps does not mention the country name, but it usually not showing belonging of territories when you are inside of that country.

From outside:
- Apple clearly says that Crimea is Ukraine.
- Google says that Crimea is just Crimea. They probably can justify that by autonomy of Crimea in Ukraine, but who knows what do they mean.

So Apple has more straightforward position, that's why their deviation in Russia is unexpected. Google is very 'flexible' on this.

 

[Marsikus]

You want the international affairs department, not the computer manufacturer department.

I expect only that American companies to follow directions of their government.

I think the people in those areas are better served by an Apple

Should not be served, as per following:

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/ukraine.pdf

On December 19, 2014, the President issued E.O. 13685 pursuant to, inter alia, IEEPA and NEA to take additional steps to address the Russian occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine. E.O. 13685 prohibits the exportation or importation of any goods, services, or technology to or from the Crimea region of Ukraine, and prohibits new investment in the Crimea region of Ukraine by a U.S. person, wherever located.