Senators call for takedown of iPhone apps that locate DUI checkpoints

[still_one]

"Four U.S. senators are calling for Apple to remove iPhone and iPad App Store apps that help users to avoid DUI checkpoints, even as rival smartphone maker Research in Motion has agreed to remove offending apps from its BlackBerry App World store."

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/23/senators_call_for_takedown_of_iphone_apps_that_locate_dui_checkpoints.html

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. One of the reasons that centralized app control is immoral

[still_one]

2. It definitely brings in issues of censorship. Of course most people do not want people driving

under the influence, but what if this revolved around something else?

I can understand individual groups protesting against this, but somehow when members of Congress get involved it is not so straight forward

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. It is bigger than just this app

It is your hardware, why should Apple have a say in what you run on it as long as it does not interfere with the FCC controlled phone portion. This is even more true with the Ipad

[emulatorloo]

13. then don't buy one

(Just downloaded one of these apps, main feature seems to be identifying speed traps.. also Accidents, Ice on Roads, Construction, Road hazzards, etc)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. I haven't. Alternatives to Ipad are coming on strong and were it not the questionable horizontal

monopoly Apple has erected they would be in serious hurt. Even as it is they are losing developers to alternative platforms. I fully expect in a few years Apple will return to its traditional role as a niche player.

Ethics matters and Apple's in this area are quite bad

[emulatorloo]

20. You are playing fast and loose with the term "Monopoly"

In one sentence you claim the copycat devices will destroy Apple, In the the other sentence you claim apple has a Monopoly, How can their be a "monopoly" if there are alternative platforms? Does not compute.

As I say, if it offends your highly developed ethical sense that Apple has a store where they sell apps for apple products, then don't buy an Apple product.

Just use the product you want and climb down from your soapbox. It will give you more time for enjoying your XOOM and free the rest of us from having be terrorized by your sermons.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. The monopoly is on applications that run on Iphone and Ipad

If I write a cool app for Ipad, how would I get it out to others without Apple. They are the gatekeeper on hardware they no longer own. Seems in a very repuke thing to do.

How would you feel if GM said you could only drive their cars on their roads or use only their fuel?

[emulatorloo]

22. The answer is simple.

If you don't want an iPhone and iPad, don't buy one. It is simple as that. Just stop torturing everybody else with your off-topic pseudo-political I-hate-apple-rants.

[brewens]

3. I shouldn't have to talk to the pigs unless they think they see me

violating some law. That is reason enough to use that app. I don't even drink.

[SlimJimmy]

4. Give it a rest (nt)

[brewens]

10. If it violates my rights. It is a pig. That is all. n/t

[Renew Deal]

5. Is this a big enough problem to matter?

How many people have phones AND know about the app AND are driving drunk?

[emulatorloo]

12. A lot of them track Speed Traps too, apparently

[Rex]

7. I call for taking down the DUI checkpoints and then people

won't have any use for the app. Fuck those guys, they probably will use it themselves when it is made illegal to everyone else...oh right, they don't drive or have to interact with us little people. :eyes:

[AldebTX]

9. Agreed

I remember being taught in Government class you were innocent until proven guilty. Now you are pulled over and have to prove your innocence. The probable cause....you are driving through an area of town that has bars.

[Rex]

11. We live in a country that is now 'guilty until proven innocent'

last time I checked, this was NOT the UK! What the fuck is going on with America? Are we becoming our own worst enemy?

[TheKentuckian]

8. Random search is a bunch of bullshit. The Constitution doesn't stutter yet authoritarian and bought

judges along with power grabbing politicians have made a complete mockery of our rights to be secure in our persons and effects starting with the bogus Terry stop overreach and growing like a weed since.

Shut down an app (on your personal fucking property, no less) to make it easier on them to run illegal schemes.

[gratuitous]

14. Now you would think that Senators, of all people, would recognize the value of this app

But maybe that's just me, and the way I think.

[emulatorloo]

15. LOL, well you don't see Boehner bitching about it, do you?

or any Republicans for that matter!

It is Harry Reid, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg and Tom Udall

[walldude]

16. They're probably mad that it's an iPhone app and they

would have to drive drunk while searching their iPhone for roadblocks... Maybe if it was a GPS thing... :rofl:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

18. Apple apps are subject to unilateral takedown...a good reason not to go with Apple

[MindPilot]

19. Excuse me Senators, how is this helping to create jobs?

authoritarian nanny staters...what you guys trying to be republicans?