Mike Peterson
Kosovo in a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook asked that the company correct how its borders appear on Apple Maps, renewing debate over the politics of cartography.
Currently, Kosovo is depicted as part of Serbia on the Cupertino tech giant's mapping platform. The country, which seceded from Serbia in 1999 and declared independence in 2008, is recognized by 100 countries, including the United States. Serbia, importantly, does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
In a tweet posted Sunday, Kosovo's foreign minister, Meliza Haradinaj, said she has penned a letter to Cook asking the executive to "take immediate steps to correctly present Kosovo's internationally recognized borders in its AppleMap Service [sic]."
On July 23rd, I've written an official letter of request to @Apple CEO @tim_cook to take immediate steps to correctly present #Kosovo's internationally recognized borders in its AppleMaps Service. Due action expected. pic.twitter.com/QreouxYxk1
— Meliza Haradinaj (@MelizaHaradinaj) July 26, 2020
The issue of Kosovo not being recognized by Apple Maps has been the subject of Reddit discussions and Apple community forum posts. There is also a Change.org petition that calls the absence of the country's borders "very worrying."
On Apple Maps' closest competitor, Google Maps, Kosovo is depicted as disputed territory with dotted lines.
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11 Comments
A minefield.
But the fact, as stated in the article, that over half of the countries in the world recognize Kosovo would suggest that they mark it as an international border.
But that would get them in trouble in Serbia, and more significantly Russia, Serbia's strongest ally. China would also likely be annoyed.
Maybe Google's solution is the best.
To think that the company has to make decisions that could cause potential diplomatic incidents!
I wonder why Apple or Google don’t take the option of showing different maps to different audiences.
Apple should also put Palestine back on the map. Last time I checked, it’s still a country.
113 country recognize Kosovo out of 195. The USA was the number 2 to do so.
Sounds like a clear majority to me. Get it done Apple.