Hope you washed your car in the last couple months, HumCo. Apple is watching us. 

Readers tipped us off to the presence of a mini-fleet of Apple vans herded up at a motel on Fourth Street in Eureka — scary! — so LoCO rolled by on its lunch break and, sho nuff, found a line of white, camera-equipped vehicles just as their operators were seemingly preparing to head out into Humboldt. 

We can’t be fully sure what the plans are, though. Drivers were quick to let us know that they are not authorized to make any statements concerning Apple’s mapping adventures. They’ve all signed non-disclosure agreements, they said. OK, guys. 

The Apple Maps website lists Humboldt County as a region they planned to map between June 5 and 18. If you’re worried about Apple potentially stealing what little privacy you have left, here’s a little reassuring blurb about how they intend to handle the imagery they collect: 

Apple is driving vehicles around the world to collect data which will be used to improve Apple Maps. Some of this data will be published in future Apple Maps updates.

We are committed to protecting your privacy while collecting this data. For example, we will blur faces and license plates on collected images prior to publication.

Feel relieved. 

Anywho, for more info on exactly how these vehicles do what they do (and how much all their gear costs!), here’s a nice writeup the site GEOawesomeness put out a couple years back. Give it a click if you’re still interested. 

Map on, Apple.