Apple is currently being urged by users to cut its app promising to cure homosexuality. Thousands have voiced their disapproval of the application, and thus far Apple has remained mum on the subject. But another iOS app garnering negative attention is one that might require a response. US senators are asking Apple to pull applications that help law-breaking users avoid police.
There are quite a few iOS options in the App Store that promise to keep you out of cuffs, specifically keep those driving under the influence away from DUI checkpoints. PhantomALERT and FuzzAlert (which are available for Android devices as well) are two such apps that have brought government attention to Apple because it only allows approved of apps to be available in its App Store. The Senators want Apple to use this authority to pull any and all applications that aid law evasion.
“With more than 10,000 Americans dying in drunk-driving crashes every year, providing access to iPhone and iPad applications that alert users to DUI checkpoints is harmful to public safety. We know that your company shares our desire to end the scourge of drunk driving and we therefore would ask you to remove these applications from your store,” senators Harry Reid, Charles E. Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, and Tom Udall wrote in a letter addressed to Apple VP of iPhone software Scott Forstall.
And while the Android Marketplace isn’t subject to the type of scrutiny as Apple’s, the senators have also addressed the competition. The group noted that “We appreciate the technology that has allowed millions of Americans to have information at their fingertips, but giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern.”
Interesting that the only comments posted to your (DT) website are that of the app’s producer. My grandfather was killed by a drunk driver so I have no pity for anyone who would use this app or drive drunk. If anything I wish they would re-progrma the app to redirect their GPS navigation to one of these checkpoints.
Of course people shouldn’t drive drunk and idiot politicians should stay out of the app store.
Yeah this is more then a moral issue, this is a matter of PUBLIC SAFETY. By aiding people to abuse the law, is WRONG. Drunk drivers need to be stopped, there’s no good excuse to drive drunk.
I think checkpoints are wrong personally, and I don’t even drink! Just have those same officers out on patrol where they have the element of surprise and environmental seclusion and stop wasting everyones time and taxpayer resources on these time consuming and inherently unconstitutional unprovoked stops. I am sure a lot of people disagree but apple shouldn’t be forced to take action.
I think checkpoints are wrong personally, and I don’t even drink! Just have those same officers out on patrol where they have the element of surprise and environmental seclusion and stop wasting everyones time and taxpayer resources on these time consuming and inherently unconstitutional unprovoked stops. I am sure a lot of people disagree but apple shouldn’t be forced to take action.
Of course people shouldn’t drive drunk and idiot politicians should stay out of the app store.
For example, Virginia Police support PhantomALERT…
Florida Police support PhantomALERT…
"It provides an alert, which provides awareness to drivers, which could prevent a red light running situation, which could ultimately cause serious bodily injury or even death," Bradenton Police Department's Deputy Chief Jeffrey Lewis said. http://www.baynews9.com/video?clip=http://static….
I think this is a kneejerk reaction. If they really understood what we are doing and aim to achieve they would actually support us. Why do we provide DUI Check Point alerts? First of all, many Police department promote or advertises DUI crack downs through the media as PSAs or through PR, Virginia Police support PhantomALERT…
oh come on, if ur able to use phone apps ur probably not drunk enough.
I didn’t even know such a thing existed.
VA Police
“we are not against them… part of the actual enforcement “DUI” is the campaign to tell people to stop driving while intoxicated … and we push out information that says where DUI check points will be and an application that tells you is the same thing we already do.” Virginia Police http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/mornings/phoneapps/sma…
I agree, just get a cab! It’s not that difficult.