Apple Changes Course on ‘Drunk Driving’ Apps
Apple partially complied Thursday with senators’ requests to remove DUI checkpoint applications from its App Store. Apple updated its App Store review guidelines to prohibit apps that include unpublished DUI checkpoint information and are deemed by some to encourage or enable drunk driving. The decision does not ban existing “drunk driving” apps and leaves wiggle room for app developers to use DUI checkpoint information published by law enforcement agencies in future apps.
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Apple’s decision stems from a letter written in March by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Tom Udall, D-N.M., urging Apple, Google and Research In Motion to remove the DUI checkpoint apps from their respective stores (CD March 23 p10). The applications flags the locations of DUI checkpoints based on user-submitted information and data gleaned from law enforcement websites. Research In Motion immediately removed all DUI checkpoint applications from its BlackBerry App World. Apple did not respond until Thursday and Google initially told lawmakers the apps did not violate Android Market content policies. Google did not immediately respond Thursday to our requests for comment.
The four senators commended Apple for changing its policy on the apps and urged the company to remove existing applications that they think facilitate drunk driving. “The new Apple policy is progress and I look forward to their complete removal of the apps,” Udall said Thursday. “It’s the responsible thing to do.” A spokeswoman for Udall said there’s a “big difference” between giving real time information to a drunk driver and posting general notice of DUI checkpoints on a law enforcement website, which is a requirement in some states. Udall encouraged Apple to “do the right thing” and remove all the DUI checkpoint applications that are still available on Apple’s App Store, the spokeswoman said. Reid agreed and encouraged Apple to “take the next responsible step of removing all applications that allow unsafe drivers to evade police checkpoints,” he said.
"Apple has done the right thing in barring new DUI applications but this victory will remain only half-won until the existing apps are removed from the store,” said Schumer. “This is about eliminating tools that people currently have to avoid drunk driving checkpoints and leaving these dangerous apps online would be a major and dangerous loophole.”