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Apple Maps Accidentally Reveals Secret Military Base In Taiwan

Posted by Soulskill on from the no-harm-no-foul dept.

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.'"

21 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Probably weren't even looking for it. by AuralityKev · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    1. Re:Probably weren't even looking for it. by firex726 · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    2. Re:Probably weren't even looking for it. by cayenne8 · · Score: 3, Informative
      Not sure what the big deal is.

      If Apple has images of it....you know the other side already had even higher resolution images of it long ago.....(likely with previously stolen US technology).

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    3. Re:Probably weren't even looking for it. by poetmatt · · Score: 3, Funny

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

    4. Re:Probably weren't even looking for it. by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's called diplomacy: You pretend that you haven't build a secret military base just across the potential enemy's street and the potential enemy pretends that he has no knowledge of it.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    5. Re:Probably weren't even looking for it. by Guignol · · Score: 5, Funny

      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 "

  2. Xinjiang by trainman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Slight correction, Xinjiang is a province not a city. And a very lovely part of the country to visit.

    1. Re:Xinjiang by cyfer2000 · · Score: 3, Informative

      it's technically an " Autonomous Region" about the same size of Alaska.

      --
      There is a spark in every single flame bait point.
  3. Uh, maybe... by SomePgmr · · Score: 5, Funny

    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!"

    1. Re:Uh, maybe... by heypete · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Indeed.

      More seriously, though, China has its own spy satellites and certainly has detailed aerial imagery of Taiwan probably in excess of the quality available to commercial imaging satellites. This information being known to the public isn't really going to change anything -- it's not like the average person is going to be able to do anything to a radar installation on a military base.

    2. Re:Uh, maybe... by gsgriffin · · Score: 3, Funny

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

      --
      jsut athnoer menagiensls ltitle psrhae for you to dcoede. Why do we wtsae our tmie dnoig tihs?
    3. Re:Uh, maybe... by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      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.

      You know, there may be at least a very small chance that they were not entirely forthcoming when they disclosed the capabilities and purpose of the facility in question...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:Uh, maybe... by DRJlaw · · Score: 3, Interesting

      More seriously, though, China has its own spy satellites and certainly has detailed aerial imagery of Taiwan probably in excess of the quality available to commercial imaging satellites. This information being known to the public isn't really going to change anything -- it's not like the average person is going to be able to do anything to a radar installation on a military base.

      You don't say?
      How about an above average militant?

      There is quite a leap from protester (or militant) with access to low resolution imagery and state military with access to state-launched spy satellite high resolution imagery. For instance, the state military is unlikely to launch an attack unless the leadership of that country has decided instigate a de facto war. The "average person," on the other hand, has little other means for obtaining details concerning internal security fences, obscured lines of sight, illuminated and non-illuminated areas, etc. The sort of information that you'd need to plan an infiltration in advance.

      There is quite a difference, but you either fail to appreciate it or do not care. Military personnel both appreciate the difference and care. Most people with a passing knowledge of military history apprecite the difference and care.

      So... no.

  4. Silly Taiwanese people. You DON'T request Apple. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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!

  5. Re:Terrorists new best friend by Dupple · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think google may have beaten them to it

    According to this article, the images are even clearer in google maps

    http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/9/3477836/taiwan-radar-defense-system-apple-ios-6-maps-complaint

    --
    Watch those corners
  6. Good for something... by chinton · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least Apple Maps revealed something that was actually there.

  7. In other news . . . by Tanman · · Score: 3, Funny

    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.

  8. Streisand Effect by Roogna · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is it me, or is blurring/removing something from these maps the absolute ideal way to tell the entire world: "There's something really important to someone here."

    I can see the conversation now. "How do I get to the Secret Base?" -- "Take a left and follow the road until it disappears on your map, then you're there."

  9. Re:what a reasonable way to solve a problem by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

    And then France is all "Fire le missles!"

    "But I am le tired."

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

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  10. Apple Maps? by PPH · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  11. Re:what a reasonable way to solve a problem by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 5, Informative

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

    That is a tired such a tired joke.

    Of 125 major European wars since 1495, the French have fought in 50, more than Austria (47) and England (43).
    Out of a total 168 battles since 387BC, they won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10.
      -- Stephen Fry, QI season 6 episode 5.

    Not bad for a bunch of surrender monkeys. Disclaimer: I'm a German and we were, after all, responsible for that oft mentioned surrender but we also admire courage and tenacity even in our (thankfully former) enemies. If you occupants of the Anglo Saxon cultural bubble want to call anybody a bunch of 'Surrender Mokeys' it's us Germans. We did after all surrender twice in the last century, the French only once.

    --
    Only to idiots, are orders laws.
    -- Henning von Tresckow