Week 13, Post 1 — Apple granted patent that would disable phone based on location

Apple has been granted a patent that would enable or disable certain features of a phone depending on its location.

The patent, which is called "Apparatus and methods for enforcement of policies upon a wireless device" would use a sensor in the phone to detect whether it was allowed to take pictures or make calls. It relies on GPS, cell tower or Wi-Fi data to determine location, and then "changing one or more functional or operational aspects" of the device. 

For example, it would set the phones to silent in a movie theater, prevent outgoing calls in a classroom, turn off wi-fi in a hospital, and many more instances. 

However, it raises serious questions about who really owns your device. This system could be abused and used as a useful tool for any oppressive regime.

However, Apple has yet again managed to get more patents, even though there is no idication that it is going to be implemented.