Apple accuses UK of power grab enabling “secret veto” over security updates
Apple may leave the UK if required to provide advance notice of product updates.
@arstechnica Let's be honest here. Apple isn't leaving the UK. That would cost them money, and they're not going to leave that kind of money on the table. This is theatre.
@arstechnica The bill is probably dead in the water at this point. It has to not only pass the House of Commons: the House of Lords have to vote it through without amendments. If the HoL water it down or vote against it the govt can employ the Parliament Act to bring it back next year ... but by then it'll be a new government. Which means the process of bolting the bill together has to start from scratch all over again under Labour, who will be forewarned of epic-level resistance from tech.
@arstechnica Also there are hints that Sunak will call a general election in May (or June, depending on how interim local elections go for his party) which means there's not much time left for non-essential government business. unless losing one of the UK's largest tech sector suppliers is somehow an urgent government priority, the bill will simply die in progress.
Finally, all it would take is one of Google, Microsoft, or Meta stepping up and saying "me, too" and the bill s definitively dead.
@cstross Although historically Labour have been even less interested in defending civil liberties than the Tories. Especially with the size of majority they're likely to have this time.
@cstross The Labour, Conservative and Scottish National parties are all on the authoritarian side. It's hard to avoid in the UK.
@arstechnica
What a joke.
@arstechnica It's sad to see that those big companies' biggest threat is "we're gonna leave". It shows that they are powerful enough that literal countries depend on them.
I hope one day one of them just gets told "ok, bye".
(Terrorism == Someone sharing Greenpeace leaflets at the Trafalgar Square.)
@arstechnica ok, just release in the UK six weeks later than the rest of the world.
@arstechnica Apple leaving the UK would kill the Tory party completely. I almost hope it happens. As soon as Apple, Whatsapp et al actually look to be taking action like this, the government will crumble. The electorate would not stand for this..