Apple denied permission to aerially map Oslo

Searching for Oslo’s 3D map in Apple’s Maps app? You might never get it, if reports are to be believed. The Norwegian government has apparently refused permission to let Apple take aerial images of the city required for creating these detailed 3D maps.

Since Oslo is the capital city of Norway, the government is apprehensive about the safety and security of government buildings and other places of national importance within the city. Apple has therefore been denied a license required to take aerial pictures while flying over Oslo. Without this license, it will be impossible for Apple to take these images.

Permission denied

The Norwegian government’s apprehension is not unfounded. The country stepped up security measures, especially in the capital city, after Anders Breivik planted a bomb outside a government office in Oslo and then went on a killing spree at a youth camp on an island. It’s been two years since the incident, but the government is not too keen on loosening security measures.

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The incident had led to a major debate over the safety of government premises, says Security Reported with Afterposten, Henning Carr Ekroll. "The government is unable to do anything about satellite images but you still need permission to fly and you get higher definition pictures from a plane,” he explains. In the past, navigation companies based in the country, like Gule Sider, have been given permission to take aerial pictures but have gaps in the available content now. Apple, on its part, has not made any comment about the issue.

India too has been over-cautious about mapping companies in the country. Google had launched the Mapathon this year in India with the hopes that the nation-wide contest would help the company chart out the country’s maps better. Instead, it got into trouble for allegedly violating India’s defence regulations on maps. The charges levelled against the company by BJP MP Tarun Vijay also were on similar lines as the Norwegian government and talked about the country’s security.

(With inputs from agencies)