“Emergency services organizations around the world are calling on Apple to implement a location feature which they say would save thousands of lives,” Ben Lovejoy reports for 9to5Mac.
“Advanced Mobile Location (AML) is a capability built into carrier networks which can automatically identify the exact position of someone making a emergency call with pin-point accuracy. Google added support for it in Android last year, but Apple has so far not responded to requests to implement it in iOS,” Lovejoy reports. “What AML does is recognize when an emergency call is being made, access the GPS and wifi chips in the phone and automatically transmit the precise location to emergency services.”
“While Apple is extremely hot on privacy, the the European Emergency Number Association – which represents more than 1300 emergency services representatives from over 80 countries worldwide – says that there is no issue,” Lovejoy reports. “The system is only activated by an emergency call, transmits the location only to emergency services and deactivates immediately after use. It is typically active for just 30 seconds.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The hacking potential is likely worrying to Apple, not to mention that the system is only in use in four countries to date so far (it’s rolling out in the UK and is fully deployed only in Estonia, Lithuania and the state of Lower Austria).
Is this software only, or is there a hardware chip that needs to be crammed into the phone?
I have no doubt that Apple is working on it, this is incredibly important, the question is when will Apple feel security issues are resolved and release the thing?
Just in case anyone misunderstood me on my first post.
I have spent a lot of time in about ten different 911 call centers (for various articles I have worked on) and have heard enough stories from 911 operators to know that this is desperately needed. The number of times they have trouble locating people on a daily basis is staggering. With the prevalence of cell phones these days, this was needed – yesterday!
If ever a post needed a thumbs up button!
It should trigger on texts to 911 (or whatever your country’s emergency number is) too, where 911 texting is enabled.
Sounds like an easy backdoor for the Government to track you to me! Use this story as the cover up to get what you want!
Please explain how an opt-in feature (set it in Preferences), available only to the OS and not third-party apps, that sends your location to the government if—and only if—you initiate an emergency call allows the government to track anybody against their will.
I helped set up a computer-aided dispatch system once upon a time, and the biggest single problem was how to locate those who were calling from a mobile device. Often, the best location we could get was the nearest cell tower, which is not even remotely close enough to dispatch help reliably. You can’t count on the caller to provide the information, either.
More often than you probably imagine, 911/999/111 calls arrive without a coherent individual at the other end who can provide their location. They cannot talk because they are disabled or under duress, or because somebody else hangs up the phone against their will. All the phone owner could manage was to initiate the call. Even if he can talk, he may be incoherent, lost, or five years old. Dispatchers do not enjoy calls where all they can do is sit helplessly and listen to somebody die.
This is a real problem, and I’m pleased that somebody has come up with a standardized solution that does not impair privacy.
Not if Apple does it.
WHAT! The Gov is tracking us?
Make it opt-in: “Do you want to give temporary access to ‘Phone’ to access your location? Your location data will be sent to the party on the other line”
Default it to off, with a prompt whenever an emergency call is made.
I can already choose to share my current location in Messages… and the new Messages app will even smartly suggest things like payment based on context. SHouldn’t be hard to implement this, but I agree… don’t do it without permission.
I may NOT want to grant access to my location. I may be reporting a crime where my location isn’t relevant.
Please, people! More spying for the sake of children? An excuse for population control.
Sorry, but “prompt when an emergency call is made” just adds more overhead to a call that’s being made because of an EMERGENCY! Seconds can be crucial. Sure, make it a setting; I for one will turn it on, and leave it on for 911 calls (it should ALREADY be on for hold-lower-button Apple Watch emergency alerts, and iPhone should have a similar instant-emergency trigger available).
I certainly don’t want it on for every call, but if I say, “Hey Siri, call emergency,” I want someone on the phone NOW – not after I answer another stupid question.
Yes, of course it’s great for emergencies…problem is, any capability can be exploited. We heard that same argument for government unlocking of phones. “It will save lives…only used in emergencies, with due process…etc.” Apple did not install a back door. I trust Apple is trying to do the right thing for privacy. If you really want to have EMS to pinpoint your location (especially for outdoor activities) opt in and buy a gps beacon.
The three Great Lies of Life:
1. “It’s for the children!”
2. “Easy-Open package.”
3. “Temporary tax.”
All it takes for a moderately invested terrorist is to know target phone number, use some sort of vulnerability in AML or iPhone. Get the location. Send in a terrorist, dirty bomb, plane etc. As the global elite uses iphones there is guaranteed high interest for this type of attack. Imagine the following headlines:
“President of […] killed in a terrorist attack – location leaked via faulty Apple positioning system”.
“Security Commission calls extraordinary meeting to ban iPhone usage for national security”
“Sales of iPhone halted in 15 countries, more to come. Requests for Tim Cook to step down surge after his outrageous comments denying its Apple´s fault”
“Masses of people throw away their iPhones”
“Samsung phone sales explode”
“iPhone 8 – not this year. If ever”
“Xiaomi CEO: “Told ya!”
feel free to continue with your own headlines 🙂