Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks...
by stickfigure on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @04:38PM
(#19147800)
It's not a perfect analogy; a "slave management app" just seemed overly anachronistic. I think the point is clear enough.
Would you be willing to make the same argument you're making for a similar app that allows parents to supervise their children?
Parents get broad supervisory powers over their children. That seems pretty universal and uncontroversial.
Would it depend on the age of the child in question?
Of course. The exact age of majority is not agreed upon even among the most progressive societies. I think we can all agree that parents should be able to make travel decisions for a 12yo. A 17yo is more complicated.
does the consent of the supervised woman matter?
This is a specious line of argument, since the app is being used against women who do not consent.
Re:Apple, Google criticised for Saudi Absher app that tracks...
by philwelch on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @05:38PM
(#19148382)
I wouldn't object if Apple and Google did withdraw the app because of these concerns, but there are still legitimate concerns about the degree to which commercial involvement in places with significantly different cultural values should be affected by cultural differences.
Would you be willing to make the same argument you're making for a similar app that allows parents to supervise their children? Would it depend on the age of the child in question?
And, for a more sticky question: even in the case of this app, does the consent of the supervised woman matter? Or are we willing to make the stronger claim that Saudi women are incapable of consent because they live in a strongly patriarchal society? Should we extend the same treatment to other instances of gender-specific religious and cultural practices?