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I would refuse to develop or deploy software in any country that mandates such backdoors.

by Kenji 9y ago

voltagex_ 9y ago
And what would the UK software developers do? It's not always possible to move.
- s_kilk 9y ago
  Take up farming, or something. Or, you know, annihilate the Tories, hold the state to account and prevent this shit from happening.
  - crdoconnor 9y ago
    "Or, you know, annihilate the Tories" That's difficult in a country with largely billionaire-run or staunchly establishment-friendly media. They may not like all the policies of the Tories but the alternative poses something of an existential threat to their overwhelming wealth.
  - MistahKoala 9y ago
    What makes you think this is entirely down to them (other than the usual eating-your-first-born tropes)? This stuff came to fruition under Labour - as I'm sure you'll acknowledge. Why not look at what both governments had in common? I'd be surprised if it wasn't found to be Home Office mandarins driving the agenda.
    - JupiterMoon 9y ago
      Corbyn is many things but he is definitely not a Blarite! The Labour party could not be making a cleaner break with the Blair era than that they have made by twice electing Corbyn as leader.
      - MistahKoala 9y ago
        He might not be a Blairite (okay, no 'might' about it), but it doesn't preclude him from authoritarian tendencies - he certainly has sympathies for them. Regardless, I think we're crediting pols too much with an agenda that, IMO, is likely driven by the Home Office.
  - CommanderData 9y ago
    I feel the odds are against Labour party although they have the best policies. The odds are controlled by media bias and collective rhetoric. So much so I noticed some phrases created by newspapers and later repeated by the PM herself. I'll be voting for the party with the best policies, I have not forgotten that the current PM has championed snoopers charters. The care for privacy the tech community has is a minority and edge case. Beyond HN the world doesn't really consider the relationship between a political party and privacy laws.
- Kenji 9y ago
  Well, those in the UK should fight for their livelihood. Educating people, organizing a movement, blacking out their own websites with a message, etc.
- satysin 9y ago
  My personal feelings on this is that in many jobs you can face having to do things that go against your principles. It is up to the individual to decide if they are willing to do such work. However I am also fortunate enough that I can pick and choose what I do for work. If my position were not so safe and it was the difference between buying food or not then I suspect I would take a job I disagree with. Your situation changes your perspective to a certain degree.

I would refuse to develop or deploy software in any country that mandates such backdoors.

by Kenji 9y ago

I would refuse to develop or deploy software in any country that mandates such backdoors.

voltagex_ 9y ago

And what would the UK software developers do? It's not always possible to move.

s_kilk 9y ago
Take up farming, or something. Or, you know, annihilate the Tories, hold the state to account and prevent this shit from happening.
- crdoconnor 9y ago
  "Or, you know, annihilate the Tories" That's difficult in a country with largely billionaire-run or staunchly establishment-friendly media. They may not like all the policies of the Tories but the alternative poses something of an existential threat to their overwhelming wealth.
- MistahKoala 9y ago
  What makes you think this is entirely down to them (other than the usual eating-your-first-born tropes)? This stuff came to fruition under Labour - as I'm sure you'll acknowledge. Why not look at what both governments had in common? I'd be surprised if it wasn't found to be Home Office mandarins driving the agenda.
  - JupiterMoon 9y ago
    Corbyn is many things but he is definitely not a Blarite! The Labour party could not be making a cleaner break with the Blair era than that they have made by twice electing Corbyn as leader.
    - MistahKoala 9y ago
      He might not be a Blairite (okay, no 'might' about it), but it doesn't preclude him from authoritarian tendencies - he certainly has sympathies for them. Regardless, I think we're crediting pols too much with an agenda that, IMO, is likely driven by the Home Office.
- CommanderData 9y ago
  I feel the odds are against Labour party although they have the best policies. The odds are controlled by media bias and collective rhetoric. So much so I noticed some phrases created by newspapers and later repeated by the PM herself. I'll be voting for the party with the best policies, I have not forgotten that the current PM has championed snoopers charters. The care for privacy the tech community has is a minority and edge case. Beyond HN the world doesn't really consider the relationship between a political party and privacy laws.
Kenji 9y ago
Well, those in the UK should fight for their livelihood. Educating people, organizing a movement, blacking out their own websites with a message, etc.
satysin 9y ago
My personal feelings on this is that in many jobs you can face having to do things that go against your principles. It is up to the individual to decide if they are willing to do such work. However I am also fortunate enough that I can pick and choose what I do for work. If my position were not so safe and it was the difference between buying food or not then I suspect I would take a job I disagree with. Your situation changes your perspective to a certain degree.