Apple patents kill switch for iPhone camera
Apple was just settling in after their tussle with FBI when they ended up in another controversy when Apple patented a kill switch for iPhone cameras that prevent audience members from ruining concerts and theatre performances by recording them on their phones.
The patent has caused a growth in frustration among users who record videos and share them on social media.
i feel betrayed that apple got that patent to disable iPhone cameras at events… like come on, i want to relive amazing experiences
— erica (@strokeitstyles) June 30, 2016
@gamespot Apple is really good about making me not want another iPhone when my time to upgrade comes
— Overworked Nerd (@Hopelessforevr) July 1, 2016
The patent was in response to the frustration of musicians and actors, including Zooey Deschanel and Jack White and Adele, who have recently started to complain how live performances are spoilt by the growing use of mobile phones and selfie sticks to record and share content on social media.
Pop star Adele who asked a fan who was filming on her mobile at a concert in Italy to “enjoy it in real life rather than your camera.” The English actor Benedict Cumberbatch had to break character during the performance of ’Hamlet’ to ask his audience to stop recording him with their phones.
According to Apple, venues can now use an infrared beam which can disable photography on iPhones.
Apples patent reads : “An infrared emitter can be located can be located in areas where picture or video capture is prohibited, and the emitter can generate infrared signals with encoded data that includes commands to disable the recording functions of devices. An electronic device can then receive the infrared signals, decode the data and temporarily disable the device’s recording function based on the command.
Apple, however, claims that this technology can can be used more than just a kill-switch. "For instance, imagine you’re wandering in a museum exhibit. The technology could pick up infrared data from an infrared emitter nearby and display information- such as curated audio, video, text- on your phone to give you more context about the object or painting in front of you,” Apple described in their patent.
Apple’s patent describing how their infrared technology works
The patent, though may be beneficial, raises other serious political concerns. Activists are concerned that this technology can be used to block recording events during a political protest or other sensitive events.
Only recently Democrats, breaking the rules of the House that forbid cellphone recording, live streamed their sit-in demanding action on gun control. ‘The debate heard all around the world’, as Nancy Pelosi puts it, was seen by more than million people across various platforms including Facebook and Periscope and would not have been possible if this patented technology was in place.
Repressive regimes could easily block the public from recording any protest organised by the opponent. Apple refused to respond when asked about consequences of the patent’s misuse.
@gamespot This is a slippery slope to where this technology could be used by the government & law enforcement so we don’t record bad acts.
— j dizzy. (@future_hue) July 1, 2016
The ramifications on this Apple patent for IR; This kind of thing could be deployed by a government at protests, etc. Dont like it. — Austin Ivansmith (@IvanDashSmith) June 30, 2016
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