Apple's request to conduct 3D mapping of Oslo denied by Norwegian government

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
A request by Apple to photograph Oslo from the air was rebuffed by the Norwegian government, prompting the U.S. embassy to offer support for the initiative meant to broaden Flyover coverage in the Maps app.

Oslo
Map of Oslo as rendered in iOS Maps.


Apple recently applied for a license to photograph Norway's capital city, but the country's National Security Authority rejected the request because it would not have control over the possibly sensitive data, reports Aftenposten.

Acting director of the NSA ?yvind Mandt told the publication on Monday that Apple's application was denied due to the high precision of the Flyover feature, which maps photographic images over 3D renderings. Such photos can inadvertently reveal secure government installations and classified "sensitive areas."

The issue has reportedly drawn the attention of the U.S. embassy, which contacted Oslo Mayor Fabian Stang for assistance. Stang subsequently asked Defense Minister Anne-Grete Str?m-Erichsen to reconsider Apple's application, saying the company has already received permits to conduct identical operations in "all Western capitals."

Apple's in-house mapping service usually handles matters of government security by replacing renderings of sensitive areas with low-resolution assets. Such is the case with the White House and other secure U.S. facilities.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 49
    gqbgqb Posts: 1,934member


    Their loss.


    BTW, they did they also deny Google the ability to drive their streets photographing everything in site for Street View?

  • Reply 2 of 49
    I am so not surprised. Too bad as it would be nice to have the feature for Oslo as it is a beautiful city. They probably would have approved before the bombing though.
  • Reply 3 of 49
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,310moderator
    [quote]Acting director of the NSA Øyvind Mandt told the publication on Monday that Apple's application was denied due to the high precision of the Flyover feature, which maps photographic images over 3D renderings. Such photos can inadvertently reveal secure government installations and classified "sensitive areas."[/quote]

    Well we certainly wouldn't want the NSA feeling like someone was invading their privacy.
  • Reply 4 of 49
    gqb wrote: »
    Their loss.
    BTW, they did they also deny Google the ability to drive their streets photographing everything in site for Street View?

    No, street view is supported, but google doesn't have to get approval for the flyover. They just drive down public streets.
  • Reply 5 of 49
    Why not allow the Norwegian government to preview and block out sensitive locales? Maps could fall back to satellite resolution images for those sections. It's not like Dick Cheney's home isn't also pixelated in Google Maps.
  • Reply 6 of 49
    john.bjohn.b Posts: 2,742member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GQB View Post


    Their loss.


    BTW, they did they also deny Google the ability to drive their streets photographing everything in site for Street View?



     


    Nope.  Check for yourself, Google has Street View for basically the entire city.

  • Reply 7 of 49
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Why not allow the Norwegian government to preview and block out sensitive locales? Maps could fall back to satellite resolution images for those sections. It's not like Dick Cheney's home isn't also pixelated in Google Maps.

    Or hire Japanese pornographers, they're pros at pixelating the good stuff.
  • Reply 8 of 49
    nagrommenagromme Posts: 2,834member
    Jut put in fake buildings for the secret spots. Bunch of Elby's Big Boys or something.

    As for the US asking other countries to stop worrying about secret facilities, THAT is amusing!
  • Reply 9 of 49
    likkielikkie Posts: 43member
    I think, if the situations were reversed with Apple being a Norwegian company wanting too flyover and photograph Washington, that the US govt would react in a similar way.
  • Reply 10 of 49


    Norwegians have sensitive spots too ..

  • Reply 11 of 49
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member




    Originally Posted by TeeJay2012 View Post

    Norwegians have sensitive spots too ..


     


    One mention of ABBA and they collapse like a leaf.

  • Reply 12 of 49
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post



    Why not allow the Norwegian government to preview and block out sensitive locales? Maps could fall back to satellite resolution images for those sections. It's not like Dick Cheney's home isn't also pixelated in Google Maps.


     


    The trouble is, blocking out sensitive locations would let everyone know where they are  :)


     


    One possible compromise might be to agree on a much lower resolution.

  • Reply 13 of 49
    rot'napplerot'napple Posts: 1,839member


    Norway is going the way of iOS 7... FLAT! image


    /


    /

  • Reply 14 of 49
    gtrgtr Posts: 3,231member
    You can't spell Norwegian without the letters NO...

    [SIZE=0](Thanks, C!)[/SIZE]
  • Reply 15 of 49
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Everyone's gone paranoid.
  • Reply 16 of 49

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by nagromme View Post



    Jut put in fake buildings for the secret spots. Bunch of Elby's Big Boys or something.



    As for the US asking other countries to stop worrying about secret facilities, THAT is amusing!


     


     


    Maybe in Norway... NSA is Norwegian Security Agency....

  • Reply 17 of 49
    paxmanpaxman Posts: 4,729member
    ireland wrote: »
    Everyone's gone paranoid.
    Certainly looks like the war on terror is a lost battle.
  • Reply 18 of 49


    I wish Apple would stop wasting time on Flyover and just fix all the serious problems with Maps (not to mention the problems with iPhoto).

  • Reply 19 of 49

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GQB View Post


    Their loss.


    BTW, they did they also deny Google the ability to drive their streets photographing everything in site for Street View?



    They can only do public streets... Gates, walls - already limit what they can see.

  • Reply 20 of 49
    backstabbackstab Posts: 138member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Phone-UI-Guy View Post





    No, street view is supported, but google doesn't have to get approval for the flyover. They just drive down public streets.


     


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by John.B View Post


     


    Nope.  Check for yourself, Google has Street View for basically the entire city.



    Seriously... Why wouldn't they mention this in the article? This is the main question of the whole issue.

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