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Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

reuters.com

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Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#131

Post by on_and_off »

xkyscore wrote: post #16

Google have flat out banned any apps that have anything to do with combating COVID-19 if they aren't either funded by their government or are a registered health company. I tried releasing a symptom tracker app before Zoe released theirs and it was rejected for this reason.

I was lucky enough to discuss it with google people.

There has been a huge influx of people trying to upload scammy covid apps. As a result the mere mention of covid is enough to get your app flagged automatically.

I don't currently work on a covid app, but I know somebody who does. Their app was flagged but they were able to resolve it by contacting google.

Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#132

Post by patrickaljord »

taywrobel wrote: post #102
dave5104 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious if "accountability" actually means anything in practice, or if it's just some of the Palantir corporate kool-aid. I don't think everyone associates government agencies with pristine records of holding themselves accountable.

I’ve only worked with a handful of LEOs in my time there, but the ones I did work with were genuinely concerned about it. If you’ve never worked with a government agency before, let me tell you, Hanlon’s Razor is in full effect. Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. The higher ups know that free reign for their officers to look up anything is a recipe for legal nightmares. The ind…

Not sure why you're being downvoted. All your comments have been very well and politely argued (whether people agree with them or not) and this is the first time I got a pick at what palantir is actually doing. Thanks for the info.

Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#133

Post by untog »

taywrobel wrote: post #108
jvehent wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So governments already have all the potassium nitrate, Palantir is just helping them make bullets?

Sure, if you think querying a database is the same as shooting someone. If so, please don’t tell me you’re a DBA.

The example given was hyperbolic but I do think it’s true that a database can be “weaponised” once it’s got the power of state violence behind it.

Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#134

Post by microcolonel »

bduerst wrote: post #93
SSLy wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll use an analogy: they might not be the warlords, but they are the weapon traffickers.

I interned in St. Louis one summer and my neighbor worked at Boeing. The only reason I remember him to this day is because he introduced himself as a programmer working on smart bombs. He immediately said it was okay because he didn't fire the bombs, he just made them smarter so they didn't kill innocent people.

I mean, that seems legitimate to me. Various governments are going to continue dropping bombs. If there's a market for PGMs for U.S. operations, that means less collateral damage; whether you like to think of it that way or not.

Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#136

Post by xkyscore »

on_and_off wrote: post #131
xkyscore wrote: post #16

Google have flat out banned any apps that have anything to do with combating COVID-19 if they aren't either funded by their government or are a registered health company. I tried releasing a symptom tracker app before Zoe released theirs and it was rejected for this reason.

I was lucky enough to discuss it with google people. There has been a huge influx of people trying to upload scammy covid apps. As a result the mere mention of covid is enough to get your app flagged automatically. I don't currently work on a covid app, but I know somebody who does. Their app was flagged but they were able to resolve it by contacting google.

>they were able to resolve it by contacting google.

Do they happen to be government-funded, or represent a health company as stated above? To be fair, I didn't follow up the rejection, I just assumed the rule would be set in stone and they wouldn't budge. The app was free, no ads or any method to profit from covid so I was pretty shocked.

Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#138

Post by zaroth »

taywrobel wrote: post #64
GaryNumanVevo wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They create tools that enable the government to infringe on the privacy rights of their citizens

I could argue the exact same about literally any database used by the government. Their tools are just easier to use and more expressive. If you don’t like the bullshit the government does, that seems like an issue you should take up with the government, no? You’re using a tech company as a scapegoat.

The same argument is actually used w.r.t. DHS/ICE using GitHub to work on software to better track illegal immigrants.

This is software that will ostensibly cut down on errors and speed up processing times for things like asylum claims, but for some reason Github was called out as being complicit.

I think the argument against Palantir is better formed than an argument against Github based on specificity of the tool, but I think both are driven more by viral outrage than careful consideration of any moral calculus or actual hands-on knowledge of how the tools are used.

Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#139

Post by shakna »

ghuntley wrote: post #129

See https://twitter.com/GeoffreyHuntley/status/12561244277810626... for Australia.

Where are the bug bounty programs? That's easy. It's a crime to see how any of the app is running. Reporting a security flaw would likely see you receive a $5000 fine, and potential jail time atop of that.

They didn't bother to get the servers running before pushing out a gigantic advertising campaign shaming anyone for not using it.

... Despite it having obvious flaws from day one, that showed it was mostly a cut 'n paste of Singapore's GPL app. (Though you can't access the source. National security trumps freedom of information and promises.)

Re: Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system

#140

Post by DanBC »

HenryBemis wrote: post #21
Traster wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is actually quite innovative from the Uk government, take the existing NHS brand which has been a thorn in the side of the Conservatives for decades, co-opt the brand for dodgy spy software thta not only tarnishes the NHS brand, but also continues the UK government attempt at tracking every step every citizen takes.

I remember the desperate efforts of Theresa May to pass the snoopers charter for such a long time. And when she became a PM it was on the top of her list, and she did it. And now with that unethical filthy blob as a PM, I only expect the worse of him and his lackeys.. IMHO Apple and Google should have finished the job and "volunteer" to make the app as well as "donate" some of the storages for the data. Not that I tr…

> I remember the desperate efforts of Theresa May to pass the snoopers charter for such a long time. And when she became a PM it was on the top of her list, and she did it.

RIPA was passed in the year 2000 under a Labour government when Jack Straw was Home Secretary.

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