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It seems like a pretty safe assumption that google will just play along with the Chinese government and force spyware into phones via play or some update mechan

It seems like a pretty safe assumption that google will just play along with the Chinese government and force spyware into phones via play or some update mechanism, if they aren't already working on this. Stopping people at random on the street to make sure an app is installed seems quite inefficient.

coralreef 8y ago
Could be a pilot project
mooman219 8y ago
There's very little "playing along" between Google and China, far less than Apple. Search is the only product that has a chance of working there right now, Play Store is just dead weight there, and most companies that ship Android in China will bundle their own app store. Apple iOS bundles a spyware system module on the other hand (for China only).
- stirlo 8y ago
  “Apple iOS bundles a spyware system module on the other hand (for China only).“ You can’t just state this as fact without any sourcing. While they may be forced to do so in the future do you have proof this is happening now?
  - mooman219 8y ago
    It's more hidden after iOS 7. If you want to start looking, check old GSCapabilities and go from there.
    - tobltobs 8y ago
      I started looking but the only thing related to china was this green tea thing, but > "Green-Tea" is a code name for devices sold in China. Green-Tea devices have restricted access to various applications e.g. Maps. isn't exactly a smoking colt for a spyware. Could you be more specific?
    - willstrafach 8y ago
      This is incorrect.
nil_pointer 8y ago
Stopping people on the street is also very bad PR and leads to submissions like this. They would be better off doing what you suggested.
- mikeash 8y ago
  This shows why it’s actually quite efficient. The bad PR is part of the whole effect. They don’t want to silently monitor these people, they want to control them, and making it known that they can be stopped at any time and forced to submit is part of the deal.

coralreef 8y ago

Could be a pilot project

mooman219 8y ago

There's very little "playing along" between Google and China, far less than Apple. Search is the only product that has a chance of working there right now, Play Store is just dead weight there, and most companies that ship Android in China will bundle their own app store. Apple iOS bundles a spyware system module on the other hand (for China only).

stirlo 8y ago
“Apple iOS bundles a spyware system module on the other hand (for China only).“ You can’t just state this as fact without any sourcing. While they may be forced to do so in the future do you have proof this is happening now?
- mooman219 8y ago
  It's more hidden after iOS 7. If you want to start looking, check old GSCapabilities and go from there.
  - tobltobs 8y ago
    I started looking but the only thing related to china was this green tea thing, but > "Green-Tea" is a code name for devices sold in China. Green-Tea devices have restricted access to various applications e.g. Maps. isn't exactly a smoking colt for a spyware. Could you be more specific?
  - willstrafach 8y ago
    This is incorrect.

nil_pointer 8y ago

Stopping people on the street is also very bad PR and leads to submissions like this. They would be better off doing what you suggested.

mikeash 8y ago
This shows why it’s actually quite efficient. The bad PR is part of the whole effect. They don’t want to silently monitor these people, they want to control them, and making it known that they can be stopped at any time and forced to submit is part of the deal.