Empires crumble. This is how Apple’s begins. https://mastodon.social/@mattiem/114019328184949846
@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
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 @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.