Apple Taking Us Back To 1984?

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In this day and age when technology is advancing faster and faster, it seems the days of Big Brother or Skynet are more prevalent than ever.

According to reports from Business Insider, Apple has filed a patent for new technology that is capable of remotely disabling the video camera functions of its ever popular iPhone device. Apple says this would be used to prevent people from violating copyright laws by recording live concerts and sharing such video with others.

Many, however(myself included), feel that this could be used for other uses and infringes on the personal freedoms of others. For instance, there are an alarming number of Police abuse incidents which are being captured on video and being used to protect those who suffered from such abuse. Now imagine if something like this is taking place and the police notice you recording the act of police misconduct. Instead of simply taking your device and destroying it, which was done in the case of Miami Police gunning down Raymond Herisse and then destroying a witness’ camera phone, the Police could simply put a call into the station, and have Apple shut down all video recording capabilities of all iPhone’s in a given area. Don’t think its possible? Apple has already admitted to tracking your location without users knowledge, which already has people in an uproar, so it isn’t like they wouldn’t know exactly where to shut said devices down.

And if Apple can remotely shut the video recording capabilities of your iDevice off, who’s to say they can’t turn it on? Can you imagine Apple not only tracking your every step, but recording it without your knowledge as well? Now imagine this being incorporated into Homeland Security laws, and “persons of interest” being tracked and recorded simply because you “fit the description” or profile. Or in this day and age when more and more mobile devices are being hacked and targeted with malicious programs, can you imagine the wrong type of individuals gaining control of your device? Don’t think this is possible either? Take a look at the very applications we download for our devices already. Now look at all of the permissions its granted by us already such as access to our devices messaging or dialing functions. Now Google how many apps on any given OS have turned out to be malicious. If the software is already there to remotely control your device, we’re all just a hack or virus away from having someone else other than Apple from controlling our device.

This is dangerous territory Apple is treading in and should at the very least have protections in place for the consumer if not outright resisted by the consumer and general public. The days of “Big Brother” and “Skynet” are closer than we think.

The views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hip Hop Democrat.

About The Author

Kamil M Abdullah has been a self proclaimed techie and bonafide smart phone expert nearly half of his life. Starting with the very first Sidekick(not necessarily a smart phone but close enough) to Blackberry to Symbian to Windows(Mobile & Phone 7) to Web OS to Android, he has used virtually every smart phone operating system. Kamil has also worked with computer programming in Bloomberg's Data Center and Backup Operations on their proprietary software. In his quest for further knowledge in mobile operating systems, Kamil voraciously devours any reading material on the subject he can find. Kamil is also a hip hop head to the fullest, having fallen in love with the art form from the very first "a hip hop the hibby to the hibby the hip hip the hop" and tr808 beat. He promises to use his vast powers and knowledge only for the good of mankind.