Apple strengthens its relationship with police through secret conferences to enhance technical cooperation.
In a new move, Apple has begun building bridges of collaboration with police agencies around the world by organizing secret conferences that shed light on how it uses its technologies to support law enforcement efforts. Recent reports indicate that these conferences are held at the company’s headquarters and aim to strengthen the relationship between Apple and law enforcement agencies, marking a significant shift in a relationship that was previously known for tension due to issues related to user privacy.
According to a report from Forbes, Apple has hosted two global conferences in the past five years, gathering representatives from police agencies from various countries to discuss the best ways to utilize Apple products such as iPhone, Mac, CarPlay, and Apple’s VR glasses in police work. Despite the common belief that Apple’s relationship with the police was fraught with tension, especially after the San Bernardino incident in 2015, these conferences reveal the company’s intentions to enhance cooperation with law enforcement in innovative ways.
The first conference was held in 2019, while the second conference took place in October 2023, with representatives from around 50 police agencies from seven different countries participating. The meetings were held at Apple Park, where ideas were exchanged on how to leverage Apple technologies to improve police efficiency and enhance their use in daily tasks.
As part of this collaboration, Apple seeks to expand its relationships with local police, especially in California, where the company has held discussions with several law enforcement agencies like the Los Angeles Police Department regarding using Apple’s VR glasses as an alternative to traditional surveillance screens, and using CarPlay system instead of laptops inside police vehicles. These initiatives could bring about a major shift in how technology is used in law enforcement.
Despite a year passing since the last global police conference, there is still uncertainty surrounding the future of these meetings, especially after the departure of the employee responsible for these efforts, Gary Oldham, from Apple. So far, there have been no announcements about plans to hold a new conference this year, raising questions about the continuity of these initiatives.
