News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by S_A_P on Monday February 11, 2019 @09:46PM (#19140565)
I don’t agree with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s stances, but I also feel like keeping a list of each state that violates human rights is not in Tim Cook’s or Sundar Pichai’s job description. If we are just being honest with ourselves the list of countries in which you can do business approaches 0 if we call out the violators. Secondly, the last time I checked a company’s mandate is to abide by the laws of the country in which it conducts business and to make a profit for shareholders. I’m all for exceeding this goal, but it should not be incumbent upon a company to follow the geopolitical climate and react.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by int_19h on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @02:05AM (#19141622)
Sure. So let's pass laws and slap some serious sanctions on KSA. If there is a country that deserves them, it's this one.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by mschuster91 on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @03:19AM (#19141919)
The problem is that sanctions have to be enforced, and the current US government is... severely lacking in that aspect: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-28/the-trump...
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by int_19h on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @04:05AM (#19142092)
Yep. And not just the present one - Saudis have a strong lobby.

But we're still a democracy. Not a perfect one, but if enough people want something, they have the tools to make it happen.

Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by mschuster91 on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @07:38AM (#19142981)
> Not a perfect one, but if enough people want something, they have the tools to make it happen.

Not if they live in heavily gerrymandered districts or in deep-blue/red states, or if they are affected by voter disenfranchisement, or if they cannot afford leave their job to go to vote.

Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by JetSpiegel on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @05:10AM (#19142337)
Seems to be working for Venezuela, my local embassy got their accounts frozen on a local bank.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by asdff on Monday February 11, 2019 @10:56PM (#19140912)
You don't need to follow geopolitics very closely to see the piss poor optics of having any association with Saudi Arabia.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by artificial on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @12:25AM (#19141268)
As long as people enjoy the products well enough in practice they'll agree (enough). Diamonds, Chocolate, borderline slave labor with no environmental laws providing cheap electronics to name a few.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by swebs on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @06:50AM (#19142743)
It doesn't seem to have affected Twitter very much.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by rsynnott on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @05:52AM (#19142509)
This isn't a case of keeping a list of abusive states, it's a case of hosting an app which is literally part of the mechanism by which an abusive state abuses people.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by thatoneyouthrow on Monday February 11, 2019 @09:48PM (#19140576)
They are helping them violate human rights. Therefore, they do have a list. It's just the wrong type of list.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by S_A_P on Monday February 11, 2019 @09:55PM (#19140602)
A lot of assumptions here. Do they know that is the explicit purpose of the app? Has it been reported? Again I don’t agree with their policies, but who’s job is it to keep track? I would think the press. However since the business mandate seems to be peddling outrage it’s easy for things to get lost in the Twittersphere.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks... by lern_too_spel on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @12:39AM (#19141325)
According to Business Insider's reporting, in addition to setting travel restrictions for dependents (which includes adult women in KSA), the app also allows you to pay parking tickets.