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

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

#431

Post by blihp »

sangnoir wrote: post #424
blihp wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite your intentions, I don't think it's possible for you to be one of the good guys. The mass collection and aggregation of the data in the first place is the problem, not merely a few bad actors downstream.

It's very easy to assign blame in hindsight. "Web 2.0" (i.e. data aggregation) was a fantastic tool and most of us did not have the imagination to see how it would be abused (just as any tool can be abused).

It was very easy to see where this was going from the very beginning and many did raise red flags but were largely disregarded because... FREE! There was plenty of user generated content for decades before Facebook/Google/etc came along (i.e. mailing lists/Usenet/forums/wikis/etc.) and one of the ways some chose to mitigate the risk was behind pseudonyms etc... which the big data collectors/aggregators have a problem with. Those who started requiring 'real names' and other personal details who then integrated disparate data sources to build profiles on users knew exactly what they were doing from day one... it's always been their business model.

That said, I have no issue with anyone who voluntarily trades their personal information for access to a service. That's their choice to make. But it also seems reasonable that there be full disclosure as to the scope and scale of the deal they're making so they can make an informed choice. This isn't even remotely the case today.

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

#432

Post by leereeves »

harywilke wrote: post #371
leereeves wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My second post addressed your claim that these issues are "well-designed compromises" by disproving it with counterexamples. MagSafe was at once an example of a port changed (MagSafe 1 to 2) and a feature removed (replaced with USB) that didn't fit your explanation "removing a common failure point". Even Apple didn't try to claim that slowing down old phones was a well-designed compromise; instead, they apologized. A…

"About a year ago in iOS 10.2.1, we delivered a software update that improves power management during peak workloads to avoid unexpected shutdowns on iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE. With the update, iOS dynamically manages the maximum performance of some system components when needed to prevent a shutdown. While these changes may go unnoticed, in some cases users may experience long…

Quote the whole phrase: a "well-designed compromise". What's well-designed about secret behavior that angers users?

But it's hard to trust that statement anyway. I'd be more likely to trust them if they'd reported that on their own, instead of hiding it for a year then issuing a PR statement when users proved it was happening.

And if that statement wasn't contradicted by their behavior in shutting down phones after the screen was replaced.

"First and foremost, we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades."

...

They forgot to mention the "unless the user tries to repair it" exception.

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

#434

Post by j2bax »

move-on-by wrote: post #414
simias wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As time passes I'm more and more wary of my Android phone (even though I have only a very limited usage compared to most "connected" people as far as I can tell). I just don't trust Google at all anymore. I think my next smartphone might well be the first Apple product I purchase in my life. Not that iPhones are without problems but as far as security and privacy are concerned they're pretty clearly the lesser evil t…

I've always had Androids, and my wife has always had iPhones. Recently I setup a Pi-Hole on my home network and I was floored by the number of network requests to various tracking services my android was making in comparison to my wife's iPhone. My wife has the facebook app and is always playing those junk free freemium games - but my relatively clean android was averaging at least double the amount of DNS lookups an…

I'd love to read a full account of your experience... I feel like if more people had any clue this was happening they'd think a little more about what they are allowing on their personal network.

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

#435

Post by sonnyblarney »

mikestew wrote: post #391
sonnyblarney wrote: post #375

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I think his heart is in the right place and as much as a corporation can, Apple generally does the right thing." Don't assume moral disposition when a CEO is talking his book. Maybe Tim is really a good person, who knows? But if Tim were the CEO of Facebook he'd be singing a different tune. Don't underestimate the ability of CEO's to align their personal views with that of he company. Apple is sensing blood in the w…

I agree with you, but is it not better that the "talking head" follow the company line rather than their own moral compass? IOW, whether the CEO believes it or not, the company's moral compass says "we're all about privacy for the time being" and the CEO speaks as appropriate to that topic. But if it's the CEO using their personal moral compass, well, that could change with the next CEO. Additionally, the CEO might s…

Agree. The issue though is anyone - CEO or Company - taking a moral position, when really it's just a tactic to benefit themselves.

The two can overlap, surely, and in 'good capitalism' they mostly do.

But let's not talk about Cooks 'heart' being in the 'right place'. His 'current product strategy' is in 'the right place' :)

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

#436

Post by leereeves »

danaris wrote: post #327
leereeves wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know that once upon a time they banned competing apps, including Google Voice. I don't know if that behavior continues but I think it's a bit too soon to forget. https://techcrunch.com/2009/07/27/apple-is-growing-rotten-to...

This is from nine years ago, when the iOS App Store (then just the iPhone App Store, as the iPad didn't even exist yet!) was less than 2 years old. Calling that "a bit too soon to forget" seems...problematic on several levels.

Why? They continue to use their control of the app store for financial gain. The clock on forgiveness doesn't start until the abuse stops.

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

#437

Post by mattferderer »

Are there any good resources or studies on the effects of laws against technology that is widely available & easy to implement?

I would imagine a culture's history has a great effect to. Guns in America for example.

I am curious how one would police data privacy when it's incredibly easy to collect data secretly. Do you only go after the big offenders?

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

#438

Post by spirodonfl »

burtonator wrote: post #258

I'd like to think I'm one of the good guys here. I was one of the inventors of RSS and Atom and worked to push open content and social media. I started a social data search platform named Datastreamer ( http://www.datastreamer.io/ ) which is basically a petabyte-scale content indexing engine. We provide API feeds to search engines and social media analytics companies needing bulk data but don't want to have to build…

If I wanted to offer whatever programming chops I have and support one of the initiatives you're working on, what's the best way for me to do that?

I appreciate all your work and contributions to the community in general. Please keep your chin up and keep moving forward.

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

#439

Post by geezerjay »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #299
booleandilemma wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can’t solve a political problem through technological means, you can only provide workarounds. Geeky, awkward workarounds. TOR is an example of this.

You absolutely can. Politics follows technology, not the other way around. At minimum, technology gives politicians new options .

That's patently false. If tech was the panacea you're suggesting, free speech would be the norm and there would be zero concerns regarding privacy.

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

#440

Post by Kaveren »

gaius wrote: post #430
Kaveren wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems like a privileged position to argue that there's no downside to people having smartphones. Many people are unable to regularly access decent laptops or desktops. Internet access is essential. The Internet lets you communicate with friends and family, access a massive trove of knowledge quickly (freeing up education), discuss current events, and all manner of other things. Even personally as a well to do Amer…

Internet access is essential. Now that is the voice of privilege! Clean drinking water is essential. A smartphone is merely a luxury and one that is not without consequences - just as cigarettes are a luxury.

Internet access is not nearly a luxury in the same way cigarettes are.

Yes, it won't literally kill you not to have Internet, but that's a disingenuous argument. I did not say "essential to remain alive", I said "essential".

You are simply not at a level playing field if you do not have Internet access in 2018.

Family emergency while you're not at home? Resources to learn about the world, educate yourself? Increased job opportunities? Housing listings? Mobile financial services?

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ie/Documents/...

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/business/dealbook/melinda...

Internet access is most commonly going to be through smartphones in the developing world. Internet access is essential.

Saying it's a luxury in the same way cigarettes are is ludicrous.

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