6 ms·

> I'm all for reducing my reliance on American big tech. As a European completely agree - but not to instead have reliance on Chinese big tech! But I guess any

> I'm all for reducing my reliance on American big tech. As a European completely agree - but not to instead have reliance on Chinese big tech! But I guess anyone who buys Huawei doesn't care where their data goes.

FooBarWidget 5y ago
Why can't European countries just establish security standards and mandatory security audits that all foreign technologies have to adhere to? That way countries can choose technology based on their merits without fear of spying from anyone, and without looking like they're discriminating. All this politicization and casting doubt (X "may" spy on you) is totally unnecessary.
- systemvoltage 5y ago
  Why do I get a feeling that such a policy would be poorly implemented by people who have no idea about cell phone operating systems? It would be a "security theater" with nothing to show for in terms of actual security. Furthermore, these certifications would give the public false hope of security while their data is being siphoned in exactly the same way before the regulation. GDPR: Strictly speaking as an average user who doesn't care about privacy - all they got is a cookie banner annoyance from GDPR. They see no benefit of regulation in EU. Sure, people on HN care about privacy and support this - but vast majority of people find GDPR laws a complete nuissance. Businesses implement the provisions in half-baked fashion because its expensive to be fully GDPR compliant. EU regulation is a shitshow and usually poorly thought out. Intentions are good but when it plays out, it is a disaster for users and businesses alike.
  - FooBarWidget 5y ago
    So what's the alternative? Ban all foreign telecom equipment, allowing only EU equipment?
    - systemvoltage 5y ago
      I don't know the alternatives to be honest. Just saying that blanket regulations are simply politician's sport, marksmanship is nowhere to be found and the target ends up being something entirely different. No one in their right mind would have predicted that GDPR is going to turn out into a cookie popup extravaganza. It is difficult to predict what happens when clueless people put regulations together without precision and limits.
curiousgal 5y ago
Honestly, I would rather have the Chinese government track me around rather than the US. Only one of those has the power to ask other countries to fuck me over on their behalf.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- whereis 5y ago
  If China dethrones US as hegemon by 2050, will you maintain this preference?
  - FooBarWidget 5y ago
    This question is a bit pointless. That all depends on how China behaves by then. For all we know they may not be interested in building power projection capabilities that go further than their own region.
    - whereis 5y ago
      Historical precedence says otherwise. And, in the case you've described, they wouldn't be global hegemon, anyway.
      - FooBarWidget 5y ago
        What sort of historical precedence? Historical precedence from the Ming dynasty showed that even when they have a big fleet, they're not interested in colonizing territories. The Ming fleet only traded, not conquered. Look up Zhang He. Historical evidence from the Qing dynasty showed that in the 18th century, Chinese mining settlers in Malaysia tried to submit themselves under the rule of the Qing, but the Qing emperor refused, saying China is big enough already. Lookup Lanfang Republic. Historical precedence from the Republican era showed that the People's Republic has given up territory compared to the Republic. See all of outer Mongolia, which was ceded (and which Taiwan, a.k.a. the Republic, still formally claims). Historical evidence from a few years ago shows that China's policy is non-interventionist. Lookup Yanis Varoufaski, former Greek minister: https://youtu.be/9tJatdtv4jQ https://youtu.be/9tJatdtv4jQ Lookup Gyude Moore, "China in Africa: an African perspective" Where is the evidence that we can expect China to behave like the US?
ratsforhorses 5y ago
ELI like I'm 5yrs old, I have a lovely mediapad from 2015, from Huawei, it runs Android...I like it's huge screen (great for watching movies) ...where is my data going?

FooBarWidget 5y ago

Why can't European countries just establish security standards and mandatory security audits that all foreign technologies have to adhere to? That way countries can choose technology based on their merits without fear of spying from anyone, and without looking like they're discriminating. All this politicization and casting doubt (X "may" spy on you) is totally unnecessary.

systemvoltage 5y ago
Why do I get a feeling that such a policy would be poorly implemented by people who have no idea about cell phone operating systems? It would be a "security theater" with nothing to show for in terms of actual security. Furthermore, these certifications would give the public false hope of security while their data is being siphoned in exactly the same way before the regulation. GDPR: Strictly speaking as an average user who doesn't care about privacy - all they got is a cookie banner annoyance from GDPR. They see no benefit of regulation in EU. Sure, people on HN care about privacy and support this - but vast majority of people find GDPR laws a complete nuissance. Businesses implement the provisions in half-baked fashion because its expensive to be fully GDPR compliant. EU regulation is a shitshow and usually poorly thought out. Intentions are good but when it plays out, it is a disaster for users and businesses alike.
- FooBarWidget 5y ago
  So what's the alternative? Ban all foreign telecom equipment, allowing only EU equipment?
  - systemvoltage 5y ago
    I don't know the alternatives to be honest. Just saying that blanket regulations are simply politician's sport, marksmanship is nowhere to be found and the target ends up being something entirely different. No one in their right mind would have predicted that GDPR is going to turn out into a cookie popup extravaganza. It is difficult to predict what happens when clueless people put regulations together without precision and limits.

curiousgal 5y ago

Honestly, I would rather have the Chinese government track me around rather than the US. Only one of those has the power to ask other countries to fuck me over on their behalf.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
whereis 5y ago
If China dethrones US as hegemon by 2050, will you maintain this preference?
- FooBarWidget 5y ago
  This question is a bit pointless. That all depends on how China behaves by then. For all we know they may not be interested in building power projection capabilities that go further than their own region.
  - whereis 5y ago
    Historical precedence says otherwise. And, in the case you've described, they wouldn't be global hegemon, anyway.
    - FooBarWidget 5y ago
      What sort of historical precedence? Historical precedence from the Ming dynasty showed that even when they have a big fleet, they're not interested in colonizing territories. The Ming fleet only traded, not conquered. Look up Zhang He. Historical evidence from the Qing dynasty showed that in the 18th century, Chinese mining settlers in Malaysia tried to submit themselves under the rule of the Qing, but the Qing emperor refused, saying China is big enough already. Lookup Lanfang Republic. Historical precedence from the Republican era showed that the People's Republic has given up territory compared to the Republic. See all of outer Mongolia, which was ceded (and which Taiwan, a.k.a. the Republic, still formally claims). Historical evidence from a few years ago shows that China's policy is non-interventionist. Lookup Yanis Varoufaski, former Greek minister: https://youtu.be/9tJatdtv4jQ https://youtu.be/9tJatdtv4jQ Lookup Gyude Moore, "China in Africa: an African perspective" Where is the evidence that we can expect China to behave like the US?

ratsforhorses 5y ago

ELI like I'm 5yrs old, I have a lovely mediapad from 2015, from Huawei, it runs Android...I like it's huge screen (great for watching movies) ...where is my data going?