Did Apple Maps remove villages from southern Lebanon?

The information/Statement:

In recent days, internet users have accused Apple Maps of removing towns from Southern Lebanon. Images from the app showing the area south of Sour without any village names have circulated widely on social media, sparking fierce indignation amid the Israeli invasion of Southern Lebanon. Yet, on Google Maps, the localities are shown in detail. On Apple Maps, they are often invisible, even if some businesses can still be found by searching manually.

Who is the source of this information/statement:

The information was shared on social media and widely relayed by internet users.

Context/The actual facts:

Joey Diab, an artificial intelligence engineer and former engineer at Apple, says that the company "neither removed nor made any modifications or changes to its data in Lebanon." According to him, this limitation is not due to a deliberate action, but rather to the data available. "Apple has never had a rich database for Lebanon in general, especially in the South and in some villages in the North," he explains.

When Apple Maps launched with iOS 6, the company included information from various providers. Major cities such as Beirut, Sour (Tyre), Saida or Tripoli are well represented. In contrast, rural areas and some villages have incomplete or non-existent data.

The difference with Google Maps is mainly due to a different approach to mapping. According to Roland Abi Najem, a cybersecurity expert, Google relies on numerous data sources and field collection systems.

"The company uses, in particular, mapping vehicles capable of capturing 360-degree images of roads and villages, allowing for more detailed mapping. Apple, on the other hand, does not have an equivalent system in Lebanon," he points out.

This information is supported by Diab, who explains that "Apple does not use Street View cars, mainly because certain navigation features are not fully operational."

However, Apple supplements its data through partner platforms such as Foursquare, Yelp, or TripAdvisor, adding certain points of interest to the map.

A check on Apple Maps confirms these limitations. When searching for Bint Jbeil, the village name does not appear clearly. However, some features are visible, such as businesses, a bank, or a hospital. Zooming in further, the map gradually reveals more details, including street names.

Why does Apple Maps remain so limited in Lebanon? "Firstly, there is no demand. And if there is any, it is very low," says Diab. He also notes that the address system is "very complicated, if not nonexistent." According to him, for a company like Apple, "this would require significant investments and a lot of time to try to work on these data."

In conclusion:

We have concluded that this information is false.

To go further:

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