Someone is Suing Apple…Again.
Who’s to blame when the dangers that technology can present become a reality? A series of lawsuits filed in California against Apple claim that we can blame the developers of that tech. California resident Julio Ceja is suing Apple to force them to apply a feature that will lock out an iPhone when you reach a certain speed. He says that they have already filed a patent for the technology to use gps speed to lock a phone. Ceja isn’t suing for any money, except for legal costs and court fees. Apple is claiming that the responsibility for safety lies with the user of the phones to turn off notifications or use “Airplane Mode” while driving.
Texting and driving are frowned upon everywhere and even illegal in many states but the responsibility has traditionally lied with the driver, not the company who made the phone. Developers of smartphones will say that they can’t ensure that their product will be used as they recommend and therefore they can’t be blamed for any dangers that come from the use of their phone or tablet. These cases are pretty important because they will set a precedent for what safety concerns companies will have to think about as they design, produce, and update their products. We will also learn how much responsibility is considered by law to be personal.
Parents Should be the First Layer
…Ceja alleges that Apple willfully did not implement a lock-out mechanism out of a choice to emphasize its business over customer safety, a choice that he believes is an example of “unfair business acts and practices” under California’s Unfair Competition Law. – TechCrunch
The courts will decide whether or not Apple is guilty of unfair business acts but as parents, we have to look closely at the question of responsibility with tech. Yes, there is a level of concern that is acceptable for a company to consider when they are producing a product, however, the first layer of responsibility should lie with parents. No, your kids shouldn’t text and drive and they are hearing that from all over. The question is “are they hearing it from you?” Are they seeing something different from you? If you are texting and driving while your kids are hearing the message that it’s wrong and dangerous, then you are removing a layer of education that can be critical to your child or teen’s safety. Our example is very important.
Texting and driving isn’t the only issue. Frustration with video game addiction or contact with adult content online is understandable but if mom and/or dad aren’t setting any boundaries to help their kids learn healthy behavior, the company who made the video game can’t be blamed. Neither can the pornography industry. The message we send our kids about healthy media and technology practices will set them up for their own behavior in the future. Pay close attention to not only what you say, but even more importantly, what you do.