Apple patents technology that could remotely disable protesters' smartphones (Aside)

Apple patents technology that could remotely dosable smartphones

"This means that those with access to the technology could use it for 'preventing wireless devices from communicating with other wireless devices (such as in academic settings), and for forcing certain electronic devices to enter "sleep mode" when entering a sensitive area". 

Video of police pepper-spraying UC Davis students.

This article has many holes. The author did a bad job of explaining what this new technology does exactly. I understand one could implement this technology in a zone where someone does not want service, but does it enter your phone and disable your phone completely? I know that one is able to take a picture or video without service, so how does that render someone from later posting this media? This technology could do, at most, postpone the upload of material from a protest stie. One problem I can see protestors facing are current updates, as with a twitter post. However, I do not see this technology cutting off videos and pictures from protests. I do see, however, this becoming a problem if governments use it against their citizens on a much larger scale. In the case of the Arab Springs and across the middle east, a dis-enabling of videos uploaded across a large region can prove as an effective measure against its citizens's protest. This could have prevented the fast-pace progression of the movement. 
I also do not see Apple's standpoint when they claim, "Apple stresses that the function would be most likely used to prevent copyright theft, such as in cinemas, or to stop phone cameras being used in inappropriate places, like department store changing rooms". If I am interoperating this correctly, this technology must be able to acces one's phone if it disables you from doing these things. In the case of one putting their phone on 'airplane mode', would be able to record the footage and post it later. If this technology disables people from doing this, it must enter the phone and stop this which could pose privacy issues. 
Also, I wonder if cellular providers would be able to dispute this at all? If there was any way for them to deny this technology, I wonder if they would?