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

Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

businessinsider.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 345 posts

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#81

Post by sandworm101 »

rdiddly wrote: post #80
clubm8 wrote: post #11

"Apple and Google accused of hosting Saudi gov't app that tracks women " is a weird phrasing. It's absolutely, 100% verifiably true they host it, as the article plainly states: > Both Google Play and iTunes host Absher, a government web service that allows men to specify when and how women can cross Saudi borders, and to get close to real-time SMS updates when they travel.

Kind of beside the point, too. The bigger news and greater surprise is that the Saudis have an app to track & apprehend women who try to leave! Like "What an outrage that Google hosts this " isn't quiiite what I was thinking...

In saudi arabia, women are property. This is no different than an app to track a stolen car or lost pet. Compared to all the stuff men are allowed to do to/with their women... this app is probably the least outrageous wrong. We need to get mad at the countries who support the real physical harms, those that enable abuse or at least do very little to prevent it.

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#82

Post by asdff »

natch wrote: post #75
shittyadmin wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't worry, they own some Lyft too.

Less, though. So Lyft it is. Not that there’s really any way you can ever control who owns shares of a public company, but if the government or its proxy is on record as a large shareholder, that’s something.

Neither are public companies.

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#83

Post by klyrs »

not_a_cop wrote: post #24
pault wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Holy shit, I can't believe this is happening in the 21st century.

Technology only gives you gadgetry, not morals. Hasn't anyone in Silicon Valley realized this yet? They're building a huge technological cage to control the masses.

A coworker literally said this in response to me raising objections over Saudi investment: "I believe Chomsky remarked that socially responsible investing is a contradiction in terms." And I must say, the logic is impeccable: money is incompatible with morals, therefore morals are worthless.

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#84

Post by asdff »

S_A_P wrote: post #55

I don’t agree with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s stances, but I also feel like keeping a list of each state that violates human rights is not in Tim Cook’s or Sundar Pichai’s job description. If we are just being honest with ourselves the list of countries in which you can do business approaches 0 if we call out the violators. Secondly, the last time I checked a company’s mandate is to abide by the laws of the countr…

You don't need to follow geopolitics very closely to see the piss poor optics of having any association with Saudi Arabia.

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#85

Post by natch »

asdff wrote: post #82
natch wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Less, though. So Lyft it is. Not that there’s really any way you can ever control who owns shares of a public company, but if the government or its proxy is on record as a large shareholder, that’s something.

Neither are public companies.

Ok thanks, that makes the decision easier then.

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#86

Post by femto »

This topic (and the associated app) has been getting a lot of press in Australia recently, due to recent cases of Australian customs refusing to acknowledge asylum claims from Saudi women who have made it to Australia and sending them back to an uncertain fate in Saudi Arabia. Also tactics like Australian officials intercepting fleeing women at transit points (such as Hong Kong) and turning them over to Saudi authorities. See the first link below.

Background on the methods used to control women in Saudi Arabia:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-04/escape-from-saudi-the...

"Escape From Saudi", a 4corners report on the same:

https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/escape-from-saudi/10778838

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#87

Post by natch »

sandworm101 wrote: post #81
rdiddly wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kind of beside the point, too. The bigger news and greater surprise is that the Saudis have an app to track & apprehend women who try to leave! Like "What an outrage that Google hosts this " isn't quiiite what I was thinking...

In saudi arabia, women are property. This is no different than an app to track a stolen car or lost pet. Compared to all the stuff men are allowed to do to/with their women... this app is probably the least outrageous wrong. We need to get mad at the countries who support the real physical harms, those that enable abuse or at least do very little to prevent it.

In Saudi Arabia, women are erroneously considered property. ftfy.

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#88

Post by natch »

peteradio wrote: post #71
diebeforei485 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, how will getting rid of an app stop the SMS notification system?

How will getting rid of the technology that makes this possible stop it?

Little by little. Yes faster ways would be better... got any?

Re: Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks women

#90

Post by m-p-3 »

rgbrenner wrote: post #53
NoblePublius wrote: post #23

I can’t believe that Lyft doesn’t cover the Bay Area with billboards that say “Saudi Arabia beats women and owns 10% of Uber.” “Saudi Arabia murders gay people and owns 10% of Uber.” “Saudi Arabia crucified two people last year and owns 10% of Uber.”

They can't because Saudi Arabia also owns part of Lyft (2.3%): https://www.reuters.com/article/lyft-kingdom-holding-ma/saud...

So if they're not happy they'll sell their parts? Win-win.
Post reply on HN