Don't even think of checking in from THERE.

Years ago, I remember the terms of service for Java and how they warned not to use their products in nuclear power plants. It's something I think about every day when I turn on the computer.*

It's comforting to know that Foursquare is also looking out for us, lest someone have the bright idea to check in from a Fourth of July party or a Doctor Strangelove screening.

1. GRANT OF LICENSE - ... Licensee shall not use the API in connection with or to promote any products, services, or materials that constitute, promote or are used primarily for the purpose of dealing in: spyware, adware, or other malicious programs or code, counterfeit goods, items subject to U.S. embargo, unsolicited mass distribution of email ("spam"), multi-level marketing proposals, hate materials, hacking/surveillance/interception/descrambling equipment, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive or otherwise offensive content, prostitution, body parts and bodily fluids, stolen products and items used for theft, fireworks, explosives, and hazardous materials, government IDs, police items, gambling, professional services regulated by state licensing regimes, non-transferable items such as airline tickets or event tickets, weapons and accessories, automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft or other mechanical devices, dispatch or fleet management, or emergency or life-saving purposes. For Applications that provide real-time route guidance, Licensee must have an end user license agreement that includes the following notice: YOUR USE OF THIS APPLICATION IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. LOCATION DATA MAY NOT BE ACCURATE.


* No. Not really. As a fresh computer science graduate, I somehow interviewed with the operator of a nuclear power plant. They didn't ask about my Java skills. Instead, they asked a lot of meaningless psychological questions that involved what kind of tree I was. I didn't hear from them for a while, until they reached out to ask if I knew of anyone looking for programming work. I pointed to myself. That was the last I heard from them.