One of Apple’s most-touted features in Maps is Flyover, a mode that lets you see a city in stunning 3D imagery. The feature is limited to select metropolitan areas around the globe, but Apple continues to add more locations as Maps matures.
The Norwegian government is currently blocking Apple from taking aerial photography of the country’s capital city, Oslo, due to privacy concerns.
Obtaining satellite imagery of locations and the license for hi-res aerial photography are two separate matters. While a lot of countries don’t have policies banning aerial photography for commercial mapping, Norway has put in place strict regulations since there were recent bomb threats in Oslo.
“It is correct is that we have denied Apple the possibility to take air photos over the Oslo area,” a spokesperson for the Norway’s National Security Authority told BBC News. “The reason is that there are restriction areas in this region. We have suggested alternative ways to get the images it wants, as we generally do to be flexible.” The concern is obviously centered about Apple producing detailed imagery of government buildings in the area.
Other companies, like Nokia, have licenses in place with the government already, so Apple could take that route.
Source: BBC News
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
