An Apology and an Update • Hacker News Board

Re: An Apology and an Update

#31

Post by orthecreedence » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:06 AM UTC

miaklesp wrote: post #24

orthecreedence wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. Going to go ahead and throw Matrix/Riot out there as a great alternative.

Which platform would be better today from practical standpoint? for a remote team of developers. Matrix?

Matrix is the protocol, Riot is a Slack-like implementation of the protocol: https://riot.im/

You can use the default (free) Matrix homeserver with Riot and you'll basically have a free chat system without any setup (besides installing the client).

I've been using Riot for a while now, and while Slack does seem a bit more polished, having client-side encryption for all my messages gives Riot the upper hand: I don't worry about sending passwords or sensitive info as much as I do with Slack.

Re: An Apology and an Update

#32

Post by bastardoperator » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:09 AM UTC

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #22

> We will soon begin blocking access to our service from IP addresses associated with an embargoed country. Users who travel to a sanctioned country may not be able to access Slack while they remain in that country. Is Slack legally required to do this? As long as they aren't knowingly accepting payment from these countries, shouldn't they be in the clear? How are other tech companies dealing with this? Does Google b…

Can’t publically trade your stock if your house isn’t in order.

Re: An Apology and an Update

#33

Post by derf_ » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:12 AM UTC

orthecreedence wrote: post #15

pyrophane wrote: post #11

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.

Yep. Going to go ahead and throw Matrix/Riot out there as a great alternative.

I pretty much gave up on Matrix after the following exchange: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8697151

Perhaps I am overreacting, but that sort of attitude on matters core to basic privacy in the post-Snowden era seems both problematic and incurable.

Re: An Apology and an Update

#34

Post by morpheuskafka » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:16 AM UTC

Santosh83 wrote: post #13

What 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.

They just do whatever the bare minimum is to comply with export laws.

Re: An Apology and an Update

#35

Post by morpheuskafka » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:18 AM UTC

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #22

> We will soon begin blocking access to our service from IP addresses associated with an embargoed country. Users who travel to a sanctioned country may not be able to access Slack while they remain in that country. Is Slack legally required to do this? As long as they aren't knowingly accepting payment from these countries, shouldn't they be in the clear? How are other tech companies dealing with this? Does Google b…

I thought embargoes didn't apply to information anyway? You're still allowed to text someone in Cuba or even call North Korea, so how come Slack is banned?

Re: An Apology and an Update

#36

Post by larrysalibra » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:18 AM UTC

IkmoIkmo wrote: post #17

warent wrote: post #3

I'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.

Exactly. Embargos function by taking away the rights away of American businesses and people. Trade embargoes make it illegal for US entities and people to trade with certain groups of people.

Re: An Apology and an Update

#37

Post by sftwds » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:23 AM UTC

orthecreedence wrote: post #15

pyrophane wrote: post #11

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.

Yep. Going to go ahead and throw Matrix/Riot out there as a great alternative.

We use Mattermost at my company, which works well for us and is entirely self hosted.

Re: An Apology and an Update

#38

Post by ouid » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:29 AM UTC

What would the penalty for non-compliance here be?

Re: An Apology and an Update

#39

Post by zbentley » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:33 AM UTC

Slack missed an excellent opportunity here: to be first US company to suspend services momentarily due to egregious and broken* sanctions imposed by the US on other countries.

* Broken in that they are levied against random individual citizens of sanctioned countries instead of groups trading with or state entities otherwise interacting with the US.

Re: An Apology and an Update

#40

Post by mabbo » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 3:40 AM UTC

I'm a big fan and critic of apologies. This one is pretty good.

They admit the mistake was theirs and they take responsibility for it. They say sorry. They explain what they're going to do to fix the situation. They say they're going to learn from this and not have similar mistakes in the future. Pretty solid.

The only thing that is missing, in my view, is personalization. Tell me who you are, speaking for the organization. This humanizes the apology, and also gives a face to who it is saying they're going to improve. Ideally the CEO.

Still, I give it 8/10.