Apple Employees May Have Falsely Represented Police Officers
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 2nd Sep 2011 21:47 UTC
Apple So, I kind of mocked this story yesterday, but today an interesting twist has emerged which puts the story in an entirely different light. This week, CNet reported a story about how Apple is working with the San Francisco Police Department to retrieve a lost iPhone 5 prototype. The police and Apple apparently traced the phone to someone's house, and showed up on his doorstep, threatening him and his family. The only problem - the SFPD has no record of any house search or of the case in general - raising the question whether Apple employees falsely impersonated the SFPD, which happens to be a serious crime in California. Update: While I was busy sleeping, the story changed a little bit, but it's still far too shady. After conferring with Apple, the SFPD now states four police officers were involved, and that only the two Apple employees entered Calderon's house. However, Calderon had no idea these two were private non-police people, since he claims they did not identify themselves as Apple employees. Had he known, he would not have let them search his house. So, update or no, Apple employees still impersonated police officers, and issued threats to intimidate Calderon into letting them search his house - without a warrant. I don't understand how people can just accept this sort of behaviour. Don't you have rights in the US? Update II: Perfect summary.
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Tony Swash
Member since:
2009-08-22

" It's also true that if this incident involved a stolen hi-fi, or stolen handbag, nobody would blink an eye.


Maybe, just maybe, that's because the police wouldn't come to the rescue for ordinary citizens as they are doing for Apple. Just a guess though.

The only reason you splutter about this is because you are Apple phobic and this story pushes all your buttons. Grow up.


I sputter about this because it involves Apple? NO SHIT, SHERLOCK. Maybe that's because, you know, THIS IS A TECH WEBSITE?

You apparently have no issues with living in a state where the police will trample all over your constitutional rights just to protect a company which, may I remind you, has pretty much offshored hundreds of thousands of American jobs to the Far East. You find that okay, and as such, you are part of the reason why America is in such a dire state right now.

Luckily, most of the reactions to this issue on the web have been very negative and condemning of both the police and Apple, which at least means there are a lot of Americans out there who do have two braincells to rub together and realise that this is entirely unacceptable. "

Maybe, just maybe, that's because the police wouldn't come to the rescue for ordinary citizens as they are doing for Apple. Just a guess though. Of course not. If you are big, important, famous, well connected and law abiding you will get better service from the police services just like you will get better service from all other services. That's just the way the world is. A huge local employer says a critically important prototype of a product worth billions in the market place may have been stolen and the cops respond with vigour - duh what did you expect them to do. This is the real world.


Here you go again 'no issues with living in a state where the police will trample all over your constitutional rights ' Trampled all over constitutional rights? I say again grow up. Cops do this sort of stuff everyday in every country, nothing exceptional occurred here.

The real telling bit of your tirade is this gem "to protect a company which, may I remind you, has pretty much offshored hundreds of thousands of American jobs to the Far East. You find that okay, and as such, you are part of the reason why America is in such a dire state right now'
This is exactly what I mean, you have a big bone to pick with Apple so this unremarkable little incident is blow up in your mind to some sort of pivotal human rights abuse. It's ridiculous.

Reply Parent Score: 1

Thom_Holwerda Member since:
2005-06-29

I have a bone to pick with any company that does this sort of crazy shit. I've written countless similar stories about Microsoft, for instance, or Oracle, and Google, too.

YOU are the one with the Apple fixation, since YOU only see the Apple stories on this site. You have barely EVER made a non-Apple comment. So, who's the one fixated on Apple here? Me, who has posted more than 10000 stories (excl. comments!), of which 99% are NOT about Apple - or you, who has never posted a comment NOT about Apple?

Sorry, but I think you might require a few glances in the mirror.

Reply Parent Score: 3