Apple patents tech to allow Govt to block recording on mobile devices

A troubling development:

Apple has patented a piece of technology which would allow government and police to block transmission of information, including video and photographs, from any public gathering or venue they deem “sensitive”, and “protected from externalities.”

In other words, these powers will have control over what can and cannot be documented on wireless devices during any public event.

And while the company says the affected sites are to be mostly cinemas, theaters, concert grounds and similar locations, Apple Inc. also says “covert police or government operations may require complete ‘blackout’ conditions.”

And those who think that this is not coming for Android in the future are deluded. If Apple managed to get this technology into the field, it is only a matter of time that Android handset manufacturers are forced to incorporate this as well. If the technology exists, in today’s post ⁹⁄₁₁ world, it is difficult to resist government pressure on such matters.

Of course, it would be interesting to see the security features for this tech, as this is very likely to be abused - by repressive governments (read, every one) as well as criminal enterprise (recording-free drug zones everybody?)