Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 546 posts

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#101

Post by OskarS »

izacus wrote: post #93
OskarS wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, and you can also tell that Apple is on the right side of this because of that FBI phone unlocking case. Apple fought the government tooth and nail, and they made it literally impossible to do for later models of phones. That whole incident really impressed me. Of the "giant evil megacorporations that will dominate our cyberpunk future", I think Apple has slightly more moral sense and backbone compared to Goo…

That's an interesting view, considering all the outrage on this site related to Google potentially entering the Chinese market under their law. It was deemed utterly immoral... and Apple gets a free pass although their own CEO it talking about human rights?

I mean, it's just my view, I don't speak for anyone else, much less "this site". I personally don't think it's realistic to require these companies to totally stay out of the Chinese market, that's just not going to happen.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#102

Post by akuji1993 »

sbuk wrote: post #95
akuji1993 wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before you consider Apple as your next device provider, remember that they right now are completely shutting down third party repairs of their devices. Also Apple's own "repair method" is to tell you that it's broken, without so much as opening the case and just replacing any component that seems to act up, costing you up to the device's original price in repair fees.

What's this got to do with privacy?

If I want to purchase a device, I'm going to take more into consideration than just the privacy policy of the company.. One of the important factors is, what happens with my device, when it's broken?

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#103

Post by thefounder »

tomelders wrote: post #88
thefounder wrote: post #14

Well Apple can start by making Siri work locally/without internet and then I believe their stance.

Cook isn't arguing that companies should not be allowed to have access to data. He's arguing that there should be laws in place to prevent misuse and abuses of that data. There's nothing inherently wrong with agreeing to give a company access to your data. But it's absolutely wrong that once you've handed your data over, that company can do whatever it wants with it, with no restrictions, as if they own it.

How is Google abusing the data collected in your context? You gave your consent when you setup your android device, right? You want Google voice or Siri? They surely benefit from all your data.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#104

Post by ganzuul »

geezerjay wrote: post #72
walterbell wrote: post #38

Hi Apple. Please: • add VPN on/off to control center • allow per-app VPN via Apple Configurator, without enterprise MDM • once the above two are available, we can use Tor, IDS, DPI or pihole on a per-application basis, to reduce data harvesting • bonus1: allow the open-source iOS MDM community OR the iOS Shortcuts community to make it easy for novice users to have one-click install of "privacy-plus configurations" •…

You're addressing the technical problem but Tim Cook is addressing the political problem, which is more effective at tackling the root causes.

Dubious proposition. Many programmers work to solve political problems through technological means. TOR is an example of this.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#105

Post by tomelders »

Well done everyone. Never let the actual content of an article get in the way of some good old Apple bashing.

At the time of writing, I can only find one top level comment (by 'dvfjsdhgfv') that's making any attempt to discuss or expand upon the content of Cook's comments.

This is one of the most important issues facing mankind, and the ball is very much in our court. We all get plenty of opportunities to criticise our favourite tech companies and their practices, but if every single mention of them becomes an invitation to shoehorn in our gripes and complaints then this entire endeavour is just a massive waste of time.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#106

Post by ilamont »

“Our own information — from the everyday to the deeply personal — is being weaponized against us with military efficiency,” warned Cook. “These scraps of data, each one harmless enough on its own, are carefully assembled, synthesized, traded and sold.

If personal data has value, and companies are making billions or even trillions of dollars from it, shouldn't these firms be paying the source (us) to use it? Real cash, as opposed to discounts or in-kind exchanges?

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#107

Post by bryanrasmussen »

ganzuul wrote: post #104
geezerjay wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're addressing the technical problem but Tim Cook is addressing the political problem, which is more effective at tackling the root causes.

Dubious proposition. Many programmers work to solve political problems through technological means. TOR is an example of this.

And is Tor an example of a solution to the problem that has become widely adopted in society causing the problem to go away? Because if not then maybe a political solution to the problem is in order.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#108

Post by geezerjay »

ganzuul wrote: post #104
geezerjay wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're addressing the technical problem but Tim Cook is addressing the political problem, which is more effective at tackling the root causes.

Dubious proposition. Many programmers work to solve political problems through technological means. TOR is an example of this.

> Many programmers work to solve political problems through technological means.

The real-world effectiveness of any technical solution depends on the political will to enforce it. Without no political will, technical solutions are not effective or enforceable, or even deployable. A political solution on the other hands eliminates the need to even consider a tech solution.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#109

Post by pcnix »

thecatspaw wrote: post #47
chongli wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you suggest Apple should do instead of comply with the law? Require it's employees to incriminate themselves? I'm not the GP but I've seen this exact form of complaint many times. I think the usual response is "stop doing business in China." I don't know how that's supposed to work, though, since Chinese companies make all of Apple's hardware.

I guess it would extend into "dont buy chinese hardware"

Then you'd have a competitor stepping in that bought Chinese hardware. A company's ethics stretch only as far as it's survival is guaranteed.

Corporations are black boxes that optimise for profit, not ethics or integrity.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#110

Post by compcoffee »

mark_l_watson wrote: post #32

I like Tim Cook, I think his heart is in the right place and as much as a corporation can, Apple generally does the right thing. I was having lunch with several lawyers at my company a few weeks ago. One of them was talking strongly about quality devices and Apple’s strong privacy stance. He literally said that we as a society should be grateful for having Apple.

>He literally said that we as a society should be grateful for having Apple.

Which is utterly cringeworthy.

iPhone user thinks iPhone is best thing since sliced bread. News at 11.

Post reply on HN