4 ms·

Is the implication that I, a random guy across the internet, am a better steward of your personally identifying information than Apple? I'm not saying you're wr

by s3cur3 6y ago

Is the implication that I, a random guy across the internet, am a better steward of your personally identifying information than Apple? I'm not saying you're wrong, but that definitely doesn't match my own intuitions.

sneak 6y ago
The implication is that, regardless of price, making the App Store more useful and valuable harms privacy for everyone, as it reduces the ability of people to resist Apple restricting features or functionality to App Store only, as they have already done with VPN apps using the NetworkExtension API. These cannot be installed outside of the App Store at all, even self-built ones. There is also the issue of surveillance. Apple processed warrantless FISA surveillance orders for 30,000 users last year, per their own transparency report. It's possible that people don't want Apple (and by extension the FBI and US military, with no probable cause or warrant required) knowing the apps they purchase and use, or when, or on which devices. Being App Store only prohibits that, and requires that your users be subject to this surveillance. It's the same issue with posting to Instagram, for example: deciding to donate free content to Facebook there makes the product more attractive to Facebook's users and makes it harder for small businesses to opt out of using Facebook's ad business. Decisions like this make the whole world worse.
- mirthflat83 6y ago
  Lmao. Might as well solely accept bitcoin to protect the user’s privacy. That would be a fantastic user experience.
- larrysalibra 6y ago
  I’m not sure why this comment is being downvoted. It is a relatively accurate description of how network effects work and the implications to those trying to resist those network effects and an opinion based on that. No need to downvote people expressing an opinion you don’t agree with!
- floatingatoll 6y ago
  Your reply doesn’t address the question asked. During a software license purchase for macOS, you either need to provide your PII to Apple, or to an indie developer. In your opinion, is it safer to provide your PII to an indie developer than to Apple as part of such a purchase? Assuming that is the case, is your objection to Apple having your PII then extended to all other large-volume payment processors such as Shopify, Stripe, Amazon, and PayPal as well?
- webmobdev 6y ago
  Absolutely. Many users / developers are forgetting that they are the ones who add value to a platform by creating for it. And now they are being asked to PAY for the "privilege" of doing so!? It's outrageous. (Please don't let the downvotes stop you from expressing these views again and again. You are not a minority on this.)

by s3cur3 6y ago

sneak 6y ago

The implication is that, regardless of price, making the App Store more useful and valuable harms privacy for everyone, as it reduces the ability of people to resist Apple restricting features or functionality to App Store only, as they have already done with VPN apps using the NetworkExtension API. These cannot be installed outside of the App Store at all, even self-built ones. There is also the issue of surveillance. Apple processed warrantless FISA surveillance orders for 30,000 users last year, per their own transparency report. It's possible that people don't want Apple (and by extension the FBI and US military, with no probable cause or warrant required) knowing the apps they purchase and use, or when, or on which devices. Being App Store only prohibits that, and requires that your users be subject to this surveillance. It's the same issue with posting to Instagram, for example: deciding to donate free content to Facebook there makes the product more attractive to Facebook's users and makes it harder for small businesses to opt out of using Facebook's ad business. Decisions like this make the whole world worse.

mirthflat83 6y ago
Lmao. Might as well solely accept bitcoin to protect the user’s privacy. That would be a fantastic user experience.
larrysalibra 6y ago
I’m not sure why this comment is being downvoted. It is a relatively accurate description of how network effects work and the implications to those trying to resist those network effects and an opinion based on that. No need to downvote people expressing an opinion you don’t agree with!
floatingatoll 6y ago
Your reply doesn’t address the question asked. During a software license purchase for macOS, you either need to provide your PII to Apple, or to an indie developer. In your opinion, is it safer to provide your PII to an indie developer than to Apple as part of such a purchase? Assuming that is the case, is your objection to Apple having your PII then extended to all other large-volume payment processors such as Shopify, Stripe, Amazon, and PayPal as well?
webmobdev 6y ago
Absolutely. Many users / developers are forgetting that they are the ones who add value to a platform by creating for it. And now they are being asked to PAY for the "privilege" of doing so!? It's outrageous. (Please don't let the downvotes stop you from expressing these views again and again. You are not a minority on this.)