Apple changes Crimea map to meet Russian demands

[JohnnyRingo]

Perhaps Apple is simply adjusting their map software to match a changing reality, but the appearance is that Putin wields great global power these days.

Apple changes Crimea map to meet Russian demands

Apple has complied with Russian demands to show the annexed Crimean peninsula as part of Russian territory on its apps.

Russian forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, drawing international condemnation.

The region, which has a Russian-speaking majority, is now shown as Russian territory on Apple Maps and its Weather app, when viewed from Russia.

But the apps do not show it as part of any country when viewed elsewhere.

The State Duma, the Russian parliament's lower house, said in a statement: "Crimea and Sevastopol now appear on Apple devices as Russian territory."

Russia treats the naval port city of Sevastopol as a separate region.

The BBC tested several iPhones in Moscow and it appears the change affects devices set up to use the Russian edition of Apple's App Store.

Apple had been in talks with Russia for several months over what the State Duma described as "inaccuracy" in the way Crimea was labelled.

The tech giant originally suggested it could show Crimea as undefined territory - part of neither Russia nor Ukraine.

But Vasily Piskaryov, chairman of the Duma security and anti-corruption committee, said Apple had complied with the Russian constitution.

Continued here:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50573069?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=itkst

[shraby]

1. putin is now ordering our oligarchs around. Thanks trump

[we can do it]

2. Google did as well.

[Igel]

5. Google plays an interesting game with Crimea.

It indicates there's a border between Crimea and Ukraine. But the border's different from the one between Russia proper and Ukraine.

Moreover, at least my Google maps labels things in English and then the official language of the territory involved. In the case of Crimea and Russia, Crimea's still labeled in what's clearly Ukrainian, and Russia's labeled in Russian.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Have Apple and Google opened embassies in Moscow?

What they recognize as Russian territory doesn't end any dispute.

[Ron Obvious]

4. We had to do something similar for China & Taiwan markets 25+ years ago at MS

For the Chinese markets, we always had to pretend that Hong Kong and Taiwan were the same country as "Mainland China". I seem there was something political about "Traditional Chinese" and "Simplified Chinese" as well.

These things are always political. When translating encyclopedias, we had to make sure we catered to who is considered the preferred inventor of anything for the given language markets.

[Igel]

6. Apple's done worse.

It was in hot water for showing that Taiwan wasn't part of the PRC.

In the case of Russia, there are Russian troops in Crimea ready to contest any claim that Crimea's really Ukrainian. In the case of China, all China has to do is say, "Um, money?" and Apple falls right in line.

[Kid Berwyn]

7. Money!

Offshore!