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Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

latimes.com

11–20 of 67 posts

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#11

Palantir's leader, Dr. Alexzander Karp, was, of course, entirely right in his prescient letter to investors earlier this year calling other big tech companies "potentially treasonous." The Apples of the world have lost sight of who actually holds their reins. We need a strong national leader to bring them to heel and remind them that serving the needs of the Western people and states is far more "moral" (and what do…

We should take tips on morality from the spies and their contractors. If only we could have a more authoritarian government!

Apple's design secures millions of US Americans devices and the help the FBI requested would irreparably harm that security.

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#12
I’d have a lot less issue with companies selling to China if they didn’t simultaneously pretend to be moral forces for good. Michael Jordan understood this years ago and I will forever have more respect for him than Lebron and his selective activism.

As they say, a man’s true character comes to light in hardship; and there is nothing difficult about adopting the moral crusade of the day back here in the so-called Free World. What matters is how you act when things are difficult, when you have something to lose.

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#13
post #7

This makes sense to me, there is legal and cultural differences. China is a sovereign country, and Apple is just playing by the rules in that country, one that is rooted in authoritarianism and surveillance. In America, although companies could voluntarily work with law enforcement, the cultural norm and historical momentum is rooted in pushing back against big government and the people’s role in checking the governm…

it is a slap in the face for the FBI and by extension, the us government that Apple has more respect for China then the FBI

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#14
post #7

This makes sense to me, there is legal and cultural differences. China is a sovereign country, and Apple is just playing by the rules in that country, one that is rooted in authoritarianism and surveillance. In America, although companies could voluntarily work with law enforcement, the cultural norm and historical momentum is rooted in pushing back against big government and the people’s role in checking the governm…

it is a slap in the face for the FBI and by extension, the us government that Apple has more respect for China then the FBI

I'm not sure I understand how following American law = disrespect for an American institution..

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#15
Tell China no, they extricate you from the country, and rewrite history that you never existed.

Tell the FBI no, they'll posture, threaten, and sue, but not do anything too extreme that can't be payed off with lobbying and other backdoor political activity.

Apple won't bite the rather large hand that feeds them, or manufactures 100% all of their overpriced gadgets that supply them profits from the rest of the world. China already has all their intellectual property handed over gracefully, they really don't need Apple other than as a brand.

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#17
post #7

This makes sense to me, there is legal and cultural differences. China is a sovereign country, and Apple is just playing by the rules in that country, one that is rooted in authoritarianism and surveillance. In America, although companies could voluntarily work with law enforcement, the cultural norm and historical momentum is rooted in pushing back against big government and the people’s role in checking the governm…

it is a slap in the face for the FBI and by extension, the us government that Apple has more respect for China then the FBI

It is not disrespectful to the FBI or the government to expect that they play by their own rules. China is being dealt with like an oppressive dictatorship and the FBI is being interacted with like a law enforcement agency in a functioning democracy.

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#18

I’d have a lot less issue with companies selling to China if they didn’t simultaneously pretend to be moral forces for good. Michael Jordan understood this years ago and I will forever have more respect for him than Lebron and his selective activism. As they say, a man’s true character comes to light in hardship; and there is nothing difficult about adopting the moral crusade of the day back here in the so-called Fre…

Google's withdrawal from China in 2010 stands out as perhaps the most eminently courageous move a technology mega-corp has made against a powerful nation state. The tragedy is that the world didn't care - signaling perhaps to all future decisions makers that, well, the we don't really care.

Not only did we not appreciate the significance of what happened or reward the deed, we have adopted in these peak social media years a style of criticism that blackens every shade of gray. No leadership will ever make Google's mistake again.

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#19
Hmm. My first thought is that this is not China. We have different expectations here and ones that sometimes run counter to the conveniences US law enforcement would like to have. Whatever happens in China, my expectations are that our goverment should work differently here and Apple should as well.

Re: Apple works with China but not the FBI (2016)

#20

I’d have a lot less issue with companies selling to China if they didn’t simultaneously pretend to be moral forces for good. Michael Jordan understood this years ago and I will forever have more respect for him than Lebron and his selective activism. As they say, a man’s true character comes to light in hardship; and there is nothing difficult about adopting the moral crusade of the day back here in the so-called Fre…

>”...if they didn’t simultaneously pretend to be moral forces for good. Michael Jordan understood this years ago...”

moral consistency is not why jordan avoided activism. he did so because he knew his whole identity as best basketball player in the world (not to mention his fortunes) could be taken away by oligarchal owners if he made any misstep or perceived slight. he was hyper-competitive and didn’t want to play a losing game.

(like so many others, jordan was my basketball idol growing up.)

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