Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Democràtic repository

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by demarq on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @07:28AM (#21396487)

A) A little late now, since as is stated in the letter people are already mirroring the repo

B) can the app really be spreading that fast, if people are having to download it from github, and override their devices security settings to install it?

Also the words "serious public disorder" send chills down my spine for some reason. It sounds like it's right out of some dystopian movie.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by ahje on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @07:44AM (#21396584)

> can the app really be spreading that fast, if people are having to download it from github, and override their devices security settings to install it?

I suspect widespread public dissent does require quite a lot of motivation. Sending an APK file over Bluetooth or a web link is most likely not that much of a hassle in that situation.

> Also the words "serious public disorder" send chills down my spine for some reason. It sounds like it's right out of some dystopian movie.

Yeah, it's outright scary, and the fact that the local news outlets here barely mentions it doesn't make that feeling any better. I'm sure there's a rational explanation but it still feels... disturbing...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by throwawaysea on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @09:20AM (#21397351)

Do all android phones let you install an app by opening a file or clicking a link? I would think carriers restrict phones’ capabilities in this regard.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by ahje on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @09:22AM (#21397370)

I've never encountered an Android device that didn't allow me to install an APK. Is that an actual thing?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by throwawaysea on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @10:23AM (#21398067)

I’m not sure. But as I understand it, in the US carriers don’t just allow any phone to connect to their network, but rather only ones they have whitelisted (I might be wrong). That’s why I assumed they would also restrict loading apps on the side somehow.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by jarfil on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @07:45AM (#21396591)

It means masked individuals breaking sidewalks with a mace to make rubble which they can put in a stolen supermarket cart to supply their friends at the front line made from burning trash from where they can safely hurl stones, fireworks and incendiary devices at the cops, while other groups use apps like this to know where they can safely go to build new burning trash front lines or rebuild the ones some neighbor might have extinguished.

Whether one agrees or not with the demands, both HK and Barcelona are serious, public, and the opposite of order.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by jannes on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @07:36AM (#21396528)

> Also the words "serious public disorder" send chills down my spine for some reason.

It's unclear who translated the letter. It may have been a github employee.

In the original it says "graves desórdenes públicos" which could also be translated as "grave public disturbances". The word "desorden" definitely doesn't have a medical connotation as "disorder" has in English.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by StavrosK on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @08:08AM (#21396765)

Doesn't "public disorder" in English have the same meaning as in Spanish here (i.e. not medical)?

For example, https://batasnatin.com/law-library/criminal-law/crimes-and-p...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by mmtml on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @07:44AM (#21396582)

The app is spreading fast because it was in google play (if I recall correctly) before being taken down. Also there are many telegram groups that people use to learn about how to download and install it

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by joking on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @08:02AM (#21396719)

it's never have been officially on google play for obvious reasons, someone must be accountable to publish an app on google play, and if you give fake data you are going to have your app removed.

It's also one of the serious security problems with this app, you can't have an official source, and forcing people to install through direct apk installation, it can be replaced by a rogue modified version very easily.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by ahbyb on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @07:50AM (#21396626)

https://www.google.com/search?q=disturbios+barcelona&tbm=isc...

If this is not a serious public disorder, you'll tell me what it is.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Spanish government orders GitHub to take down Tsunami Dem... by Nasrudith on Wednesday October 30, 2019 @07:53AM (#21396651)

It should - not only in all together too familiar rhetoric but because it is so exploitably vague - not only does it not require an actual offense but a reaction but it is so totalitarian that it easily encompasses a pretense of anything "not obeying" them, let alone dissent including going against their never spoken will.

To be frank anyone unironically speaking something like that brings to mind ethical arguements about smothering baby Hitler.

[ Parent | on HN ]