Apple Maps Accidentally Reveals Secret Military Base In Taiwan

redletterdave writes "After one Taiwanese newspaper snapped and printed a satellite photo of a top-secret military base from the new Maps application running on an iPhone 5, the defense ministry of Taiwan on Tuesday publicly requested Apple blur the sensitive images of the country's classified military installations. The top-secret radar base, located in the northern county of Hsinchu, contains a highly-advanced ultra-high-frequency long-range radar that military officials say can detect missiles launched as far away as the city of Xinjiang, which is located in northwest China. The radar system was obtained via U.S.-based defense group Raytheon in 2003, and is still being constructed with hopes to be completed by the end of this year. 'Regarding images taken by commercial satellites, legally we can do nothing about it,' said David Lo, the spokesman of Taiwan's defense ministry, in a statement to reporters. 'But we'll ask Apple to lower the resolution of satellite images of some confidential military establishments the way we've asked Google in the past.'"

Comments

Probably weren't even looking for it.

[AuralityKev]

They found it when they were actually searching for the nearest Burger King in Gary, Indiana.

Re:Probably weren't even looking for it.

[firex726]

> Turn left at the Pacific Ocean and continue for 6000 miles.

Re:Probably weren't even looking for it.

[poetmatt]

Please. We're talking about Taiwan. Let's not insult Taiwan like that - Taiwan has not stooped to the level of Gary, Indiana.

Re:Probably weren't even looking for it.

[Guignol]

The big deal, is, we must have managed to get past c, somehow, and are now stuck in the bizarro universe

Message from the ministry of defense to Apple and everyone else:

"We are sorry to ask you Apple so bluntly to follow our strict privacy rules, but this as a matter of the highest importance for our country and therefore we demand:
That the pictures taken from our Ultra Top Secret Defense facility be blurred immediately

The top-secret radar base, located [Full address with detailed instructions about how to get there quickly + nice hotels and restaurants nearby] , contains a highly-advanced ultra-high-frequency long-range radar that can detect missiles launched as far away as the city of Xinjiang.
The radar system was obtained via U.S.-based defense group Raytheon in 2003 for $1.23 billions, you will see in attachment a copy of the receipt and the names, addresses and phone numbers of the diplomats and businessmen involved in the super secret project so that you can confirm those figures, should you need to
This Top secret facility is operated by over 250 trained soldiers and scientists. There are 25 dogs protecting the north and west areas, 35 people shift turns every 3 hours to protect the rest of it, except at lunch since they all lunch together

Again, blur the pictures immediately as they are a threat to our top secret facility "

Uh, maybe...

[SomePgmr]

The images of a base showed up, so they gave everyone the specs and capabilities of the radar system in their request to hide the base again? That doesn't seem very clever.

"Dear Google, we see you're showing images of Area 51. This is the base where we hide all the alien corpses and spacecraft we've collected over the years, so we'd really appreciate it if you blur the aerial photography. Thanks!"

Re:Uh, maybe...

[gsgriffin]

Can't find the secret bases in Taiwan...just look for the blurred areas...done.

Silly Taiwanese people. You DON'T request Apple.

[Anonymous Coward]

Silly Taiwanese people. You don't request Apple for anything. You beg. You pray. You hope. But you DON'T speak to The Apple unless spoken to by The Apple. Commoners!

Good for something...

[chinton]

At least Apple Maps revealed something that was actually there.

Re:what a reasonable way to solve a problem

[crutchy]

if taiwan declares war on the US because a US corporation violated their national security, it would open the floodgates...

china: "mmm fung pei! finally we have excuse... prepare 10,000 nuclear missiles for launch, and prepare our 1,000,000,000 soldiers to finish them off"
russia: "quickly, follow the chinese because all our stuff is a bit rusty so let them take the brunt... long live the mighty Soviet Union!"
iran: "quick lets fuck up israel while the US is busy"
north korea: "ahh harrow!... taiwan decrare war on US infidels... rets just rob a few terrorists over the pacific whire they're distracted"

us: "aaw crap!"

In other news . . .

[Tanman]

In other news, a giant art sculpture designed to be visible from space located in the northernmost reaches of Siberia is mysteriously blurry when viewed from the latest satellite photography through Apple's new maps application.

Re:what a reasonable way to solve a problem

[Chris Burke]

And then France is all "Fire le missles!"

"But I am le tired."

"Well then have a nap. THEN FIRE LE MISSLES"

Apple Maps?

[PPH]

No problem. The correct location of the base will never be found.

Re:what a reasonable way to solve a problem

[AK Marc]

But sir, do we surrender before or after we file the missiles?