I’d say this is a perfect candidate for a web app / PWA.
These days you can even add notifications to iOS/Android PWAs with no registration
Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
121–130 of 140 posts
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#122Earlier quoted context omitted.
Government will just hijack the domain as they have with torrents and other things they don't like Am working on a mobile app that requires in person keygen/sharing via Bluetooth, syncs selected data between devices once keys exchanged and new local IP is shared (over something like Signal; discovery is hard/expensive so I am going with a low tech manual option to notify peers how to reconnect) Flood the field with a…
That sounds like a nice setup for decentralization. I've long thought people should just fork DNS. This already sort of happens with ad blocking commercial services, but I'm thinking it might be time for something that runs over a mix network, where devices have multiple trust roots for DNS services, and run a quorum computation when there's disagreement. Ideally, disagreements between the roots could be escalated to…
It's forked since..... at least mid-90's? Not that the alternatives have any real reach.
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
Please direct me to the general computer in a phone form factor that isn't some fiddly Linux gadget. What e-reader doesn't allow side-loading books?
Ah the old "I want freedom but I refuse to accept any inconvenience to get it"
No, not inconvenience, safety and security.
There are limited choices if you want to keep it in mind.
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#124Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#125Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the Trump administration has been rather good at following through on their threats. US import tariffs are insanely high right now and he's been able to successfully fire whoever he wants. All Trump has to do to destroy eg. Apple is get rid of the exemption from the tariffs they've been given for electronics manufactured in India.
I mean, Jimmy Kimmel won and Apple is way more powerful with far deeper pockets. This admin isn't all powerful, as much as they try and project that image. Apple and I think Google have a pretty big reservoir of good will among the public at large. These folks won't be in power forever, but the cowardice of people like Tim Cook will always be remembered.
It looks OK on the surface, but it gets worse the more you look into the details.
It doesn't really matter that the administration keeps losing in federal court, because the justice department doesn't really care and keeps doing the thing they were told to stop doing anyway, because there's nobody to enforce the ruling.
The executive branch is being actively purged of anyone and anything that is not aligned with and loyal to Trump and the vision of Project 2025, and the institutions that might be used to halt or reverse the damage are being specifically targeted and attacked.
Not only that, but all the other major industry players have already bent the knee and kissed the ring. You don't want to be the only one who doesn't, otherwise you will get singled out and targeted for extortion or worse. Several very powerful law firms were successfully targeted for political extortion by executive order. Major universities have conceded to demands. Conservative news media is in lock step with the administration and can push any narrative at any time. Threats might've already been made privately to begin antitrust enforcement, for some other form of targeted corporate punishment.
Moreover, it's obvious that one of the goals of this administration is to destroy consumer protections and employee protections, creating an environment where powerful corporations can do whatever they want in the name of profit. As the CEO of a large corporation, you might be actively under pressure to cooperate and collaborate. So there is a large downside to resistance, and a large upside to playing along.
Tim Cook will be remembered as one of dozens and dozens of cowards, but only in private whispers, because if they say it in public they will be blacklisted or worse.
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#126Earlier quoted context omitted.
There were no terrorist attacks on traffic cops lately.
Gosh, was I asleep and missed a new terrorist attack on ICE agents? How did you know they were ICE agents, did they identify themselves?
there was one a few weeks ago, with a shooter targeting an ice facility.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/09/24/dhs-issues-statement-tar...
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is literally how extortion by organized crime works. It's the same mechanism. Of course they'll be back for more, but if you don't give them your money, they will beat the shit out of you and then come back for more anyway. You know what's expected of you, and the alternatives are generally much worse. Incidentally it's also a textbook presentation of the Manufacturing Consent Propaganda model, except it's not o…
Except Apple and Google are incredibly powerful, and the Trump administration has shown they mostly fail to follow on their threats (yet, at least). If some entities are able to stand up against the nascent fascist regime, it's them. But as we all know, corporations and fascism are like peanut butter and jelly.
There seems to be an implicit assumption here that Apple and Google managements don't like Trump's ICE policies and are doing all this under duress.
But is this a valid assumption? Or is it mere wishful thinking? If almost half the US population revoted Trump into power, it's logical to assume the same proportions apply to the managements and employees of A and G too.
I'm against granting any management any benefit of the doubt without solid proof they deserve it.
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#128Neither ICEBlock nor Red Dot are OSS. Seems a little hypocritical. Why not provide the code on GitHub? Why not offer alternative download sources?
Seems to me like it would be a great opportunity to make a list of subversives, judt by exfiltrating their identity via the "app". Cooperation from the developer is optional. There's precious little reason to distribute as an app, except for exploiting the user. If all you wanted to do was show things on a map then the web is already well set up for that. In fact the apps are probably just embedding a web browser any…
This app wasn't even the safest, see here:
ICEBlock handled my vulnerability report in the worst possible way | https://micahflee.com/iceblock-handled-my-vulnerability-repo...
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#129Earlier quoted context omitted.
Except Apple and Google are incredibly powerful, and the Trump administration has shown they mostly fail to follow on their threats (yet, at least). If some entities are able to stand up against the nascent fascist regime, it's them. But as we all know, corporations and fascism are like peanut butter and jelly.
There seems to be an implicit assumption here that Apple and Google managements don't like Trump's ICE policies and are doing all this under duress. But is this a valid assumption? Or is it mere wishful thinking? If almost half the US population revoted Trump into power, it's logical to assume the same proportions apply to the managements and employees of A and G too. I'm against granting any management any benefit o…
For sure, that's what I implied in that "corporations and fascism" line. If they wanted to make a stand, I believe they could. But as history tells us, businesses are a fascist's biggest allies, so they won't.
Re: Google removes ICE-spotting app following Apple's ICEBlock crackdown
#130Earlier quoted context omitted.
A nuisance app that generated zero revenue for these app stores was used in a murder. It’s a PR no-brainer to simply remove it just as they constantly remove other apps for all sorts of reasons.
A perfectly legal application was arbitrarily removed from distribution without any due process because it displeases those in power. Funny how perspective on things can change depending of the amount of boot licking people enjoy.
Unfortunately, somebody figured out that if they put cocaine in boot polish, people kneel and lick easily.