The Places feature currently uses the iOS provided
Apple MapKit library
and Apple maps. This is not a decision the team made easily, but after
much feedback and research, we believe this is the only option for now.
A couple important notes:
1. This is only used in the Places tab, as a means of search and
discovery. These maps are NOT used in the encyclopedia itself, and
do not replace, prevent or circumvent work by editors to add open
maps to articles on wikis.
2. Our users' privacy is preserved. We don't share what articles you're
reading with Apple, and Apple has put significant technical and
legal oomph into preserving privacy for their built-in maps library.
If you have concerns or questions, please check out the page we wrote
explaining the situation in much more detail[1]. We also welcome your
addition to the Discussion either on wiki, on the task request to
replace Apple Maps[3] or via email.
[1]
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Apps/Team/iOS/Maps_service
<https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Apps/Team/iOS/Maps_service>
[2]
https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T157763
Thanks. I've replied there: