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Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?

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Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?

#11

Post by marsRoverDev »

I think that the best solution here would be for the major players to go dark together for a day or two. No Google, no Bing, no WhatsApp, no Facebook.

I say this as an Australian developer who relies on these services to communicate with family back home. The Australian market is so small that these companies could do it, and I think that it would have the desired effect. Australia is a country which requires these services, and if every single citizen was suddenly without these facilities then something would be done about the problem.

Right now, the average person in Australia is not informed about the changes, and they do not know the impact it will have on them long term. It needs to be brought into sharp focus.

That is of course, if these companies actually see it as a threat to them - which is up in the air.

Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?

#12

Post by Queenie_15 »

bufferoverflow wrote: post #2

It'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)

Apple already operate data centres in China without privacy controls - seemingly happy to provide full government access in exchange for access to a lucrative market. Google currently have no operations in China.

Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?

#14

Post by bufferoverflow »

Queenie_15 wrote: post #12
bufferoverflow wrote: post #2

It'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)

Apple already operate data centres in China without privacy controls - seemingly happy to provide full government access in exchange for access to a lucrative market. Google currently have no operations in China.

Interesting. I'm wrong then.

Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?

#15

Post by adventured »

bufferoverflow wrote: post #2

It'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)

There's a third option. Force the Australian government into a showdown in which they have to ban Apple devices and services from all of Australia (via the telecom carriers). Don't leave willingly, stand by the people of Australia until you can't any longer; don't harm your customers willingly, make the government harm them by physically revoking market access. That would have the benefit of producing a very public demonstration of what's actually happening.

Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?

#16

Post by shard972 »

marsRoverDev wrote: post #11

I think that the best solution here would be for the major players to go dark together for a day or two. No Google, no Bing, no WhatsApp, no Facebook. I say this as an Australian developer who relies on these services to communicate with family back home. The Australian market is so small that these companies could do it, and I think that it would have the desired effect. Australia is a country which requires these s…

> Right now, the average person in Australia is not informed about the changes, and they do not know the impact it will have on them long term. It needs to be brought into sharp focus.

I feel like there has been a decent amount of coverage on this topic as it was a main subject in the final sitting days in the year and you had the labor opposition ceding their "no" position.

Maybe it's not fully explained technically to everyone, but people generally understand that encryption is generally ubiquitous on the internet.

I think in the end alot of people actually don't mind the idea that the government should have some power to snoop on someone they think is doing bad things. They understand to varying degrees what kind of abuse that will lead to, but just don't see the inherit dangers ever applying to them or someone they know.

Re: Ask HN: Will Apple, Google, Amazon and Others Install Backdoors for Australia?

#18

Post by alpaca128 »

jamesholden wrote: post #8
hndamien wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

As long as it's not their wallets/right to repair, and their users don't live in China, then yes.
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