New legislation requires companies to secretly install backdoors if the government asks or risk multi million dollar fines.
Will Apple, Google, and Amazon install Australian backdoors?
Or will they just exit the country?
Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
1–10 of 24 posts
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#2It's an interesting situation. I wonder if Apple will bend over and give up user's privacy, or will exit Australian markets.
Google and Amazon will definitely sell out the users.
(and I'm not an Apple user)
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#3Well, Google wanted to run their software in China until their employees disagreed :)
So maybe it depends on the employees?
Either way, anything we'd comment would just be speculation.
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#4This is a good question. I'm very curious to see the impact this has too. Personally I am appalled that this legislation went through. Very scary precedent.
I want to think Australia shot itself in the foot here, if big companies will be exiting or if Australian developers are looked over for projects because they don't want to deal with this backdoor BS.
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#5It's an interesting situation. I wonder if Apple will bend over and give up user's privacy, or will exit Australian markets. Google and Amazon will definitely sell out the users. (and I'm not an Apple user)
I really hope Apple leave, otherwise they have no significant distinguishing feature.
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#6The way the law reads, we won't know if they have installed backdoors for Australia as they aren't allowed to notify people about it.
Mind you, if they all exited the country - along with Netflix and Facebook then I'd imagine the bulk of Australia would suddenly take a serious interest in it and the law would get revoked.
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#7Well, Google wanted to run their software in China until their employees disagreed :) So maybe it depends on the employees? Either way, anything we'd comment would just be speculation.
They are looking at ways to clamp down on leaks and stuff internally from what I hear. They will just get better at hiding projects from the employees going forward.
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#8It's an interesting situation. I wonder if Apple will bend over and give up user's privacy, or will exit Australian markets. Google and Amazon will definitely sell out the users. (and I'm not an Apple user)
I really hope Apple leave, otherwise they have no significant distinguishing feature.
One thing I do respect about Apple is that they do try and protect their users.
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#9Yes, of course. Censorship for China, backdoors for Australia, espionage for USA, lies for the rest of the world. Unfortunately the only thing that counts is money. We are just providers of information they sell.
Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?
#10Under the Five Eyes partnership, isn't this just a law passed so that Australian citizens can be forced to install backdoors on behalf of the US.
The CIA is said to not spy on American citizens domestic activities, but ASIS and ASD can do that for them.