AppleInsider Staff
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.
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 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."
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 Strøm-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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49 Comments
Their loss.
BTW, they did they also deny Google the ability to drive their streets photographing everything in site for Street View?
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.
[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.
[quote name="GQB" url="/t/159008/apples-request-to-conduct-3d-mapping-of-oslo-denied-by-norwegian-government#post_2378811"]Their loss. BTW, they did they also deny Google the ability to drive their streets photographing everything in site for Street View? [/quote] No, street view is supported, but google doesn't have to get approval for the flyover. They just drive down public streets.
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.