Empires crumble. This is how Apple’s begins. https://mastodon.social/@mattiem/114019328184949846
@chockenberry Not providing feedback for development phases is an interesting idea, and a good start.
@chockenberry @mattiem It’s an interesting idea. As an Apple shareholder, I voted against Tim Cook as CEO in the last round of voting. It’s not much but it felt good.
@gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem I am also voting against with my tiny shareholding and then I’m selling it after this shareholder meeting. They won’t listen to retail shareholders anyway and if they’ve sold out all their values, I no longer want to be associated.
@gadgetgav @gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem while you're there vote against the Anti-DEI proposal too, even though Tim Cook wants you to. ;-)
@StrangeNoises @gadgetgav @chockenberry @mattiem Oh yes, I sure did.
@gedeonm @StrangeNoises @chockenberry @mattiem Me too! I threw some tiny grains of sand in the gears where I could.
@gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem
What would you all do, were you in Tim’s shoes? Do you really think he’s a terrible person?
It seems way too easy and facile (and honestly, childish) to say, well, Apple should do *this* or else they’re now terrible and screw them!
I feel like Apples (et al) choices in the US w/r/t politics have become similar to those in china. There is no easy nor satisfactory answer. I certainly don’t have one.
@kraigschmidt @chockenberry @mattiem I don’t pretend to have all the answers but good governorship is a series of choices and at this moment, in my humble opinion, Cook and Apple, are making all the wrong ones.
Apple is one of if not the most powerful companies in the world and is instead acting like a payola factory.
When Trump’s administration eventually insists Apple removes all encryption on its platforms what will Cook do? Going to be a whole lot harder to say no after a slew of yeses.
@gedeonm @kraigschmidt @chockenberry @mattiem my thinking exactly, unfortunately…
@gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem
What choices are “all the wrong ones”?
The most likely are:
Naming the gulf — not their choice, and no great options
‘App Store policies’ — let’s just say not everyone feels similarly aggrieved by Apple’s policies in this area. I’d personally prefer they be *more* restrictive and demanding.
DMA — hard disagree with this entire approach. I’d rather see Apple *leave* the EU than follow a law that destroys the vertically integrated business model.
@gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem
I mean, I’m not trying to persuade you; I think people can disagree with respect.
But I think of it this way — how would Apple behave if Trump was Xi and the policies & politics were Chinese?
That’s pretty depressing all the way around, I guess. [Sigh]
@kraigschmidt @chockenberry @mattiem
I’m curious what your reaction will be if and when Trump tells Apple to remove the Taiwan flag from iOS. Or the LQBTQ+ or Trans flags. Or to rename Greenland in Apple Maps to Red, White and Blueland? Or demands Apple provide encrypted data on ALL iOS users. Should Apple comply with all those requests?
@gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem
I don’t know. My understanding is Maps uses the official name for the Gulf in a govt repository?
The anger here should be at Trump et al, not Apple?
Other things like you suggest — are they legal requirements, or just ‘requests’?
I hate that Apple bends the knee to the Chinese govt. I would hate them doing any of those same things to this US govt. But I don’t know what else they are supposed to do?
Shut down the company out of, what, righteous pique?
@kraigschmidt @chockenberry @mattiem Again I don’t have all the answers but I see a pattern developing and Apple re-advertising on X is just the latest example.
The admin will come for much more from Apple than just renaming the Gulf of Mexico. Like iOS users health data. Or financial data. There are technological safeguards built in ATM but if Apple decides to willingly comply with these baseless requests those safeguards will be meaningless.
@kraigschmidt @gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem Advertising on X is a choice, not a result of government policy. So is donating $1 million to this president.
@gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem
We are in a genuinely terrible situation; but I don’t think it’s fair to misplace frustration about that situation onto Apple.
@kraigschmidt We truly are.
But the same with any cause to protest. Each and every individual is both powerless and helpless facing insurmountable odds.
The worst thing that could happen is that we all make new friends along the way.
I bet that people ridiculed printing leaflets in times of Nazi Germany, too; leaflets don't end a regime. Yet The White Rose is still an inspiration. At the very least, it can spread hope for change.
It's all upsides from here.
@gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem
And what does power even mean?
At least in china, the govt knows that if they kneecap Apple it will hurt many thousands of workers and many Chinese companies.
But Trump isn’t bound by any rational thought at all. I’d wager Apple’s ‘power’ is meaningless in the current US context.
@kraigschmidt @gedeonm @chockenberry @mattiem what would I do? Especially Having so much money and privilege? Quit. Speak out against the tyranny. Stop answering to ‘the share holders’. Have principle. Tim demonstrates money is more important than civil liberty after all for him.
@kraigschmidt @gedeonm @chockenberry I realize you meant this as an insult, but I am constantly amazed by children. They have such a deep sense of kindness and fairness. I envy them.
@mattiem @gedeonm @chockenberry
Kids don’t have to concern themselves with any of the complications or nuances or gray areas. Maybe sometimes that can be instructive, but usually it’s too simplistic. [Shrug]
@chockenberry @mattiem given how fast Apple went back to advertising on Twitter, their stance on privacy, security and end-to-end encryption also seems to be one government decision away from changing.
@chockenberry Tim Cook is beholden to his share holders. Developers don’t need to be.
@chockenberry @mattiem Sure, someone organizes a boycott & millions of people stop visiting Apple stores & buying their products? Never happen. It’s individual people who make those decisions not masses.
@chockenberry @mattiem if there’s a way to frame the movement in a way Apple’s own engineers can align and help boost the message, maybe that would help?
@emarley @chockenberry Apple employees are in an impossible situation. That is unfair to them. It’s one of the many reasons why we have an obligation to do something.
@chockenberry @mattiem Maybe, maybe, the ship is slowly changing course?
@chockenberry @mattiem an interesting take, I hope this also means that you all stop using TV, electricity and every other thing that works through the federal government.
@Strwpok @chockenberry Absolutely not! That’s a purity test. It is a weapon used to discourage and defeat.