I would hope that any such lawsuit would be thrown out, unless this is a particularly widespread issue, or Apple intended to harm this business. This seems like an honest mistake on Apple's part, perhaps because someone reported the business as closed.
What do you want Apple to do? Personally verify every edit to every business on Maps?
I don't really understand why that would be too big of an ask for one of the wealthiest companies in the world, but at the very least, I'd expect Apple to yield to the authority of the business operator when changing the status to closed. Seems like a pretty solid reason for a lawsuit imo. I'm sure Apple would feel the same way if someone changed all of the Apple store retail locations to "Permanently Closed" on Google Maps and nobody checked it.
Yes, you do need an Apple device to use Maps, but it's at least a viable alternative to Google that casual users pick (versus, say, OpenStreetMaps).
How much is the cost to continually verify every business on Maps? I would expect it to be a very large amount. If it were very expensive, would Apple have created Maps, or keep Maps operating? I don't know.
I guess what I'm getting at is that Apple doesn't get much direct gain (as far as I know -- maybe they get some money from Yelp?) from Maps, and I'm rooting for Apple because at least they're not Google.
How does Apple Maps exploit users? As we've discussed, you must first own an Apple device. Does Apple Maps sell data or advertise or something?
And if not, then perhaps they at least have a moral duty. Even if Apple were fined for something like this, likely the fine would be cheaper than ensuring compliance would cost. Meanwhile, a restaurant losing customers for a week because people think it's closed could bankrupt their business.
If Apple Maps isn't available to to people without Apple devices, it's not free.
You can. DuckDuckGo uses it as their provider. https://duckduckgo.com/?hps=1&q=1600+pennsylvania+ave&ia=web...
Albeit as a developer OpenStreetMaps offers better experience
It's like google maps ten years ago... Well no, they already had itineraries.
Why do people act like human moderation would be such an untenable burden? These tech companies are GIGANTIC, they can afford to do human moderation.
Anyone with an iPhone, Mac or web browser can do so and I've done it dozens of time because as everyone knows the POI quality is terrible.
And it's really not hard to interact with Apple here in Australia. You can either call their support number which goes direct to a person or visit an Apple Store.
Google maps can be used from all platforms...
Anyway, I don't own a Mac or iPhone. I guess if I was a small business owner and Apple Maps had wrong information about my business I'd just be out of luck.
And so instead I'm supposed to call some support number and wait on hold to talk to someone who has no idea how to fix my problem, and bounces me around for a while until the connection accidentally disconnects? Yeah, no. I think you overestimate how much time she'll business owners have to deal with this sort of garbage.
Almost every car accident is an honest mistake. Does that mean that the at fault driver should not have to fix the harm caused because they didn’t mean to cause it?
Not true. Many, probably most, car collisions are caused by negligently disregarding if not wilfully exceeding the speed limit, negligently disregarding an obligation to yield to other traffic, illegally operating a phone while driving, or some combination thereof.
I’m just using a colloquial term for people whose actions are neither intentional or malicious to make the point that you can be held responsible for damages you didn’t foresee or intend to cause.
Rarity of the event does not comfort the victim.
> or Apple intended to harm this business
No one cares what they "intended" to do, only what was done.
> What do you want Apple to do?
I want them to pay the guy who they harmed.
> Personally verify every edit to every business on Maps?
That's absolutely right. This isn't Open Street Maps where anyone including the business owner himself can edit the information. Apple's reponsible for this.