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Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

9to5mac.com

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Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#41

Post by pyre »

sedev wrote: post #29
gte910h wrote: post #9

I can see police officers affixing this to their gear....

That was my very first thought, too - "wow, this is going to be a boon to criminals in uniform!" Think of it the way Bruce Schneier would: what could a malicious person accomplish with this technology? There's no effective way to keep it out of their hands, so you need to know what happens when someone tries to use this technique for malicious ends. The security implications of this are just nasty, nasty, nasty.

Hear, hear! I wonder how Apple will spin it when I can't photograph a police officer abusing someone with my iPhone? Is that a feature? Or is Apple trying to tell me that 'photographing abuses of power' is not one of the intended uses of the iPhone and if I want to use it for such a purpose, I shouldn't buy one?

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#42

Post by rbanffy »

edw wrote: post #36
rbanffy wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh.. I get it... I was criticizing Apple... It's even worse than when I criticize Microsoft between 9 and 18 PST...

You really think sheets of visible light transparent but IR opaque plastic are going to be outlawed? Do you think your favorite band is really going to allow such a device to be enabled during one of their shows, thus pissing off their fans? Do you really think some company is going to bring a DMCA circumvention device suit against iPhone case manufacturers? Are you willing to wager? I'm feeling lucky: I'll bet you $…

> You really think sheets of visible light transparent but IR opaque plastic are going to be outlawed?

When you woke up on September 10th 2001, did you imagine you would ever have to take your shoes off to board a plane? Weird things happen and weirder rules get enacted. The tech we build is, sometimes, misused. I even like nuclear bombs - they can be used for good. This recording prevention device cannot.

> Do you think your favorite band is really going to allow such a device to be enabled during one of their shows

I'd have no problem if the Rolling Stones decided to start using recording prevention devices to "protect" their shows. I'll worry when the police starts wearing them on their helmets.

IIRC, HP patented a similar device a couple years back.

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#43

Post by jamesbkel »

cheald wrote: post #18

I want this to go into the iPhone 5. If it does, I can think of about a million ways to troll the general public with it. Imagine, little solar-powered IR LEDs that you could ninja-drop in places (like...an Apple store) that would broadcast "Hello, you are photographing a copy of The Hurt Locker". This would make the best hidden-camera show ever (though you'd have to record it with a non-iPhone).

Agreed, my first thoughts too. This is ripe for abuse.

I honestly would be less concerned about "legit" or "publicly known" use (concerts, sports, political event etc.) since it would lead to public dissent towards of the offending performer/venue. Not saying it wouldn't be used, but there would be a significant PR liability if they imposed sanctions on photography.

If I were a criminal, first thing I would do is get a few of those IR transmitters to wear on my ski mask.

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#44

Post by jamesbkel »

Tycho wrote: post #40

Different take: this would allow people to carry iPhones into company buildings (eg. service centres belonging to banks, government offices) and areas where camera-phones are banned for security reasons. The bank I used to work for banned camera phones from their offices, I imagine many other companies do the same. I would think twice about buying a phone I can't take to work. Or, corporations might rule out iPhones…

Interesting take, hadn't thought of that at all.

Something along those lines would definitely be boon to AAPL or others penetrating that sort of market. However, we all know the software on smartphones are if not trivially, at least often manipulated. This may be able to skim a little of the market, but if I had a business where I couldn't trust camera phone now, I wouldn't trust this technique against even a slightly educated and motivated individual.

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#45

Post by dclowd9901 »

ary wrote: post #2

Now just imagine it being used at political events or to suppress collection of evidence of abuse at demonstrations. Edit: Probably worth noting that were this to take off it would probably also be embedded in every TV out there.

That latter part is the first place my mind went. Imagine not being able to capture all the police abuses that have been captured in the last 5 or so years because of cell cam videos.

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#46

Post by sixtofour »

kelnos wrote: post #37
ary wrote: post #2

Now just imagine it being used at political events or to suppress collection of evidence of abuse at demonstrations. Edit: Probably worth noting that were this to take off it would probably also be embedded in every TV out there.

Probably worth noting that were this to take off it would probably also be embedded in every TV out there. If it's infrared, you can always find and cover the emitter.

It would be more difficult if the emitter were inside the bezel.

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#47

Post by mahyarm »

kelnos wrote: post #37
ary wrote: post #2

Now just imagine it being used at political events or to suppress collection of evidence of abuse at demonstrations. Edit: Probably worth noting that were this to take off it would probably also be embedded in every TV out there.

Probably worth noting that were this to take off it would probably also be embedded in every TV out there. If it's infrared, you can always find and cover the emitter.

Or add IR blocking film.

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#48

Post by rbanffy »

lotusleaf1987 wrote: post #21
rbanffy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that's the case, they should donate the patent to either the EFF or the ACLU.

Why that's a total non-sequitur? If the patent is only specifically related to Apply products, then they should keep it to themselves. There's no incentive for Apple to produce/sell this device.

Then why have the patent in the first place?

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#49

Post by kelnos »

ary wrote: post #39
kelnos wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably worth noting that were this to take off it would probably also be embedded in every TV out there. If it's infrared, you can always find and cover the emitter.

Good point. In your home yes, but not everywhere.

In which case you could cover the receiver on the phone instead.

Re: Apple patents system for iOS devices to prevent image and video capturing

#50

Post by awnroca »

orangecat wrote: post #4

Yet another reason why replacing general purpose computers with locked down appliances would be extremely bad for freedom and innovation.

Bad for freedom, great for innovation. If you lock me down I will find a way around to root/jailbreak/whatever you.
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