This is yet another good reason to prefer decentralized networks. When Slack or Facebook or whomever agrees to block someone there is no resolution other than appealing to a company with a closed decision making process, something I don't think any of us really want.
An Apology and an Update
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Re: An Apology and an Update
#12How did they not block based on nationality when they literally blocked a nation?
I see it as a technically true statement: they blocked users who looked like they were connecting from within an embargoed nation, regardless of these users' actual nationality.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#13What does Slack propose to do about access through a VPN so your real IP is hidden?
Of course in the long term this is just incentive for countries to support balkanisation of the Internet.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#14They should apologize for the cowardice displayed in adopting the discriminatory policies foist upon them by bad actors.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#15This is yet another good reason to prefer decentralized networks. When Slack or Facebook or whomever agrees to block someone there is no resolution other than appealing to a company with a closed decision making process, something I don't think any of us really want.
Yep. Going to go ahead and throw Matrix/Riot out there as a great alternative.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#16What does Slack propose to do about access through a VPN so your real IP is hidden? Of course in the long term this is just incentive for countries to support balkanisation of the Internet.
Reading between the lines, I think that's what they're suggesting.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#17I'm definitely living under a rock. Why is Slack being impacted by a trade embargo?
Because that's how embargoes work? They impact not only goods, but also services. The US has one on Iran. And as Slack is a US company (or rather, a company which has an interest of maintaining operations in the US, regardless of where it is based), it complies, thereby blocking service to any entities (e.g. people) in Iran.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#18How did they not block based on nationality when they literally blocked a nation?
They likely blocked by whether you ever signed in from a blocked nation. That's not necessarily the same as blocking any users who would qualify as exporting software to a blocked nation, which is also not the same as blocking everyone whose nationality matches said nation.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#19What changed recently that hadn't been the case for past years that made them add these new measures? A true, earnest apology would at least touch on the justifications for the changes more than just "become legal". But I understand that, sadly, that kind of transparency is a bit much to ask of any company these days. Still curious though if it was just an internal decision or spurred via government/legal threat/request.
Re: An Apology and an Update
#20What changed recently that hadn't been the case for past years that made them add these new measures? A true, earnest apology would at least touch on the justifications for the changes more than just "become legal". But I understand that, sadly, that kind of transparency is a bit much to ask of any company these days. Still curious though if it was just an internal decision or spurred via government/legal threat/requ…
Three or four years ago I helped investigate application usage from embargoed countries as part of an acquisition. The acquirer was performing due diligence, and this was a liability they needed to assess.
So, to answer your question, I doubt anything serious changed outside of Slack. Inside, however, maybe they got a new legal team that flagged this as a liability, or they're getting serious about compliance, or they're preparing for an IPO[1], or whatever...
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/07/slack-has-hired-goldman-sach...