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Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

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Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#91
post #8

FWIW, everyone who claims that Apple fundamentally needs the centralized ability to control apps on their platforms "for everyone's safety" -- despite how that obviously and repeatedly makes them become patsies for governments all over the world to enforce their censorship regimes -- are complicit in this stuff (in addition, of course, to the people who build it at Apple...).

> are complicit in this stuff I don’t know that that is fair. This framing is designed to shame people into feeling guilty for their point of view, rather than their actions. Being complicit means to be knowingly involved in or facilitating an illegal or wrongdoing act. In my books, it requires a level of participation that I don’t think your characterization meets.

Their action is supporting and promoting the model to other people, if they do that

Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#92
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> are complicit in this stuff I don’t know that that is fair. This framing is designed to shame people into feeling guilty for their point of view, rather than their actions. Being complicit means to be knowingly involved in or facilitating an illegal or wrongdoing act. In my books, it requires a level of participation that I don’t think your characterization meets.

The wrongdoing is supporting this company's dominance, which enables this level of censorship.

Supporting it is still not complicity though. Wrongdoing, sure.

Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#93

Why are people so obsessed about apps. could be a website that couldn’t easily be taken down.

Well, native apps are more popular among non tech savvy people because they’re easier to find and install. I was talking to the guy who works on our backyard and they don't even know what a browser is on their phone.

Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#94
post #18

This is exactly what's wrong with Apple's app store exclusivity. It's also what's wrong with mandatory notarization where regulations forbid that, and Google's plan to require developer verification.

Websites don’t need an App Store.

The brightest minds are working on this problem as we speak

Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#96
post #78

Google is making it so sideloading APKs on Android is no longer possible. This is one of many great reasons why that should not happen.

Google disputes that: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-...

>Verified developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or through any app store they prefer.

So it’s the same then. Google can just “unverify” a developer who has published an app the kings don’t approve of.

Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#97
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish Steve was still around for these battles. Tim Cook is such a pussy.

Steve was never tested like this was he? Everyone’s about values until they are put into a fucked up situation like Tim Cook. The man had to literally deliver a Roman tribute to this president personally.

He could have refused. Few things would sway public opinion on tariffs like more expensive i devices.

Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#99

[flagged]

> There's nothing stopping ICE from raiding where you live and destroying your shit.

This isn't specific to ICE, and sovereign immunity especially around law enforcement is a topic that has been contested for a while. Every now and then there's a story that pops up of some innocent's house being destroyed due to a clerical error leading the local SWAT team to look for drugs at the wrong address.

Re: Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from DOJ

#100
post #83

Why are people so obsessed about apps. could be a website that couldn’t easily be taken down.

PWAs are limited in functionality, and websites on the clearnet are easily taken down or blocked.

> PWAs are limited in functionality

By Apple, because it's Apple that a) refuses to implement advanced PWA features in WebKit and b) refuses to allow apps to use other browser engines.

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