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Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

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Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#31

Sorry if I missed something obvious, but if we're at the point where the U.S. government is even contemplating banning TikTok, how come it's on Google and Apple stores at this point? They seem to be at least somewhat vigilant about spyware etc.

Apple earns a lot of money from China, so difficult for them to do something which irritates the Chinese government. Google behaves the same way, even though they have no income from China right now, but I think they are secretly hopefully of dragonfly.

What does dragonfly mean in this context?

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#32
post #4
post #2

I'm more surprised Amazon (or any company, really) employees using an employer-managed device would have TikTok on them to start with, to be honest. As the follow-up tweet says: "Completely independent of the specifics in this instance: get a second device before installing an employer's config profile on your personal device"

Does Amazon provide company phones or just install an MDM profile on your personal phone? I have TikTok installed on my phone, and if my employer said I had to remove it to access my work email, I'd ask them to buy me a work phone. It seems a bit ridiculous that they'd want to control what apps you download on your personal device without providing an alternative.

Amazon has MDM (Airwatch). AFAIK there are not generally company phones or phone plans. Monthly limit on reimbursement for phone business expenditures in the US is $50, although I think you can also expense the device itself.

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#34
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple earns a lot of money from China, so difficult for them to do something which irritates the Chinese government. Google behaves the same way, even though they have no income from China right now, but I think they are secretly hopefully of dragonfly.

What does dragonfly mean in this context?

The secret google search engine that google planned to launch in China which would comply with the great firewall.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly_(search_engine)

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#35
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple earns a lot of money from China, so difficult for them to do something which irritates the Chinese government. Google behaves the same way, even though they have no income from China right now, but I think they are secretly hopefully of dragonfly.

What does dragonfly mean in this context?

[deleted]

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#36

Sorry if I missed something obvious, but if we're at the point where the U.S. government is even contemplating banning TikTok, how come it's on Google and Apple stores at this point? They seem to be at least somewhat vigilant about spyware etc.

China is Apple's second largest market. They are not removing it from the US App Store unless they are legally obligated to do so. They have no reason to add wood to that fire. Apple's best bet right now with this particular issue is to play neutrality.

> China is Apple's second largest market.

At least for now. It's important to note that the Chinese government has a very strong campaign against American phones (and it's working), as backlash against the US for banning Huawei.

This is also why Apple is even less likely to do anything to further upset the CCP, not to mention they manufacture the bulk of their products there. But if Apple loses enough market share and/or moves enough production out of China, then they might change their tune as well.

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#37

Sorry if I missed something obvious, but if we're at the point where the U.S. government is even contemplating banning TikTok, how come it's on Google and Apple stores at this point? They seem to be at least somewhat vigilant about spyware etc.

China is Apple's second largest market. They are not removing it from the US App Store unless they are legally obligated to do so. They have no reason to add wood to that fire. Apple's best bet right now with this particular issue is to play neutrality.

> China is Apple's second largest market. They are not removing it from the US App Store unless they are legally obligated to do so.

That's true. However Apple's hands are tied here due to this and they always bend to the side of China. Due to this, they are still being accused of hypocrisy.

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#38
post #29

Does anyone else feel we're suddenly supposed to be anti-China? Is it because of Hong Kong? (Honest question, I have no strong opinion .) Because it feels like after Russia and Muslims now China is the new enemy. Kind of stupid imho. Anyway, the high road would probably be not to ban any apps but to make the operating systems safer..

China has been an American economic foe for a while. The CCP has stepped up measures and started to push their agenda and censorship globally. They have stepped up their presence in the South China sea and claimed ownership of international waters. They have clamped down on Hong Kong and other provinces, put Muslims in concentration camps using them as slave labor, stealing their organs, shaving their heads and selling the hair on the market. They've been using their state controlled enterprises to spy on people outside of their borders (I'm not saying the west is innocent 100% on that one.)

So...I don't think it's stupid at all. China (the CCP) is anti-freedom. The west is generally a liberal society.

https://www.axios.com/china-hong-kong-law-global-activism-ff...

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#39

I assume they won't be doing that to the main-stream spyware pushed by US companies.

The threat model for AMZ is state sponsored corporate espionage, not government intruding on your and my privacy. The former cost them a ton of money unlike the later. Given their inability to enforce IP or many other laws in china even if there was similar espionage happening in the U.S. the legal system is strong enough for Amazon not to worry of losing money.

Re: Amazon says email banning TikTok from employee phones was ‘sent in error’

#40
post #29

Does anyone else feel we're suddenly supposed to be anti-China? Is it because of Hong Kong? (Honest question, I have no strong opinion .) Because it feels like after Russia and Muslims now China is the new enemy. Kind of stupid imho. Anyway, the high road would probably be not to ban any apps but to make the operating systems safer..

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