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We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

atomic.computer

21–30 of 85 posts

Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#21
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A government app being built like b2c is exactly the problem

I'm sure that HN's preferred app would be <5MB, and has zero third party SDKs or telemetry, but half a dozen SDKs and third party domains is basically most mass market apps these days. Is it bad? Yes, but the whitehouse isn't being egregiously bad, but "whitehouse app is bad, just like most other apps" isn't going to get clicks.

See gov.uk for a good example

Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#22
post #4
post #2

So like... most b2c apps out there? I checked app privacy report for a few such apps I have installed and also got a very high proportion of third party domains. Maybe not as high as 77% but definitely above 50% (ie. more domains are third party than first party). The most surprising part here is them refusing to put correct info in the "data collected" section of the app store listing. edit: they seemed to have upda…

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Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#23
post #12
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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> If so, why do you think lobbying exists?

Specifically because it's not a natural market. There are people who secure a 2-year, consequence-free term to impact U.S. law, at the behest of people with money.

Lobbying is special interests dictating decisions that often are not financially, morally, or otherwise ideal/beneficial to the other party (the United States and its people). This wouldn't fly at any corporation or business because there would be direct impacts on the bottom line or reputation of the company.

Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#24
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A government app being built like b2c is exactly the problem

I'm sure that HN's preferred app would be <5MB, and has zero third party SDKs or telemetry, but half a dozen SDKs and third party domains is basically most mass market apps these days. Is it bad? Yes, but the whitehouse isn't being egregiously bad, but "whitehouse app is bad, just like most other apps" isn't going to get clicks.

Oh, sorry you missed Exlir and WASM, and rust and programming socks of course. Half credit.

Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#25

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The US government is publishing an app that over 50k people have downloaded, at least on the Android app store. People should care.

And? Half the posters here develop VC-funded spyware professionally.

Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#26
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A government app being built like b2c is exactly the problem

I'm sure that HN's preferred app would be <5MB, and has zero third party SDKs or telemetry, but half a dozen SDKs and third party domains is basically most mass market apps these days. Is it bad? Yes, but the whitehouse isn't being egregiously bad, but "whitehouse app is bad, just like most other apps" isn't going to get clicks.

"everything else sucks too" is not a great defense for the US govt.

Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US government is publishing an app that over 50k people have downloaded, at least on the Android app store. People should care.

And? Half the posters here develop VC-funded spyware professionally.

and the other half work for the government or an NGO LOL

Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#29
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one put words in your mouth, they asked you a question. You are the one who made the initial comparison to B2C apps, so it seems like a fair question to me. Your comment implies that its standard and the app isn't doing anything out of the ordinary when I think most people would except an official government app to be held to a higher standard than the average B2C app.

>You are the one who made the initial comparison to B2C apps, so it seems like a fair question to me. The relevant part of B2C is the 2C part, not the B. Mass market apps are generally ridden with telemetry and SDKs. Moreover I'm not sure how you think it's a "fair question" to go from a remark about how other apps are equally bad, to thinking I want the US government to operate as a business. It's like doing: A: "I…

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Re: We intercepted the White House app's network traffic

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US government is publishing an app that over 50k people have downloaded, at least on the Android app store. People should care.

And? Half the posters here develop VC-funded spyware professionally.

VCs publicly funded by tax policy and bailouts. Americans are abused spouses.
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