Live data from Hacker News

Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

iphoneincanada.ca

31–40 of 634 posts

Re: Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

#33
post #23
post #11

A problem hk faced as well. But to threat to shut down telegram is not the right move. You do not kill a platform.

Don't be so optimistic. Apple and Google are a duopoly to control mobile messaging (outside of China). Not for me, I use a Linux phone (Sailfish OS) with no Google. Not for real activists (criminals in the eyes es of oppressive governments like Chaina, Belarus, Russia, Iran, Turkey, ...) who will always find their way. But for 98% of any population.

It is interesting that people don't think that their western governments are oppressive too. In fact they are slowly adopting techniques used in China and other countries who try them first. People are the same everywhere. They want power and those who take pleasure from harming others get to find their way into governments.

Re: Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

#34

I'm from Belarus. Honestly, I'm surprised Apple gives a shit. Now I'm worried that Apple can cooperate with local police in case they make inquiry. Am I safe? Here is the link to one group that uses ML to de-anonymize people: https://youtu.be/FAJIrnphTFg

You've got to just hope that Apple realizes how bad this would blow up in their face if they worked with police in Belarus to identify democratic protestors, especially given their emphasis on "privacy" in their marketing.

Re: Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

#35

Apple is a US company. If Belarus people want those channels, they should build their own device or get an android. I fully support apple taking action on violence and doxing rather than bending down to other country's people or apps like telegram. If tiktok refused to take down doxing of officials in US, it would get banned.

When looking at Apple's ads and knowing that it is a US company, I kind of expect that in my oppressive post-soviet country I can get a glimpse of power of US constitution and that they won't bend under demands of third world dictators...

Re: Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

#37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you point me to similar Facebook/Whatsapp groups ? Because they are usually pretty aggressive about acting on inciteful content.

I doubt it. Maybe they crack down on an app or two when they feel like it but Apple aren't moving the needle on incitement. Plus they make and sell communication apps subject to carrying the exact same sentiments. Content policing a chat app is asinine.

It's not. They don't allow NSFW apps on iOS even if it's user generated. They have to make it explicitly opt in with significant restrictions.

Apple can do whatever they want on their platform. I wouldn't want to be involved in something illegal such as above when using an app on iOS accidentally.

Re: Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

#38

So the solution would be to block that channel on Apple devices? And maybe noting that Apple made them block it.

Apple prohibit them from saying that Apple made them block it because it's "irrelevant". So they must censor those message without any info to the user so the user won't know Apple is oppressing them.

Re: Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

#39

Through what right or means can Apple demand this, though? Telegram is a platform for user-generated content and it seems odd for Apple to single-out those 3 channels/groups specifically - what about the hundreds of thousands of other objectionable groups on Telegram? And why Telegram in particular? Why doesn't Apple give the same ultimatum to Facebook to pressure them to block access to militant ethnonationalist gro…

I would be surprised if this were not a demand from the Belarus government, threatening sanctions on Apple, possibly with Russian support. The Belarus government can just block the App store entirely and may, if Apple does not comply.

Re: Apple tells Telegram to take down protestor channels in Belarus

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt it. Maybe they crack down on an app or two when they feel like it but Apple aren't moving the needle on incitement. Plus they make and sell communication apps subject to carrying the exact same sentiments. Content policing a chat app is asinine.

It's not. They don't allow NSFW apps on iOS even if it's user generated. They have to make it explicitly opt in with significant restrictions. Apple can do whatever they want on their platform. I wouldn't want to be involved in something illegal such as above when using an app on iOS accidentally.

Telegram is Apple's own platform? Are you saying Apple is involved in something illegal by allowing Telegram to distribute software through the App Store, since people use it to dox Putin-aligned police in Belarus?
Post reply on HN