5 ms·

> secretly install a COVID-19 tracing app The Register's article is a complete shitshow in emulating the confusing language from the lawsuit. Luckily the compl

> secretly install a COVID-19 tracing app The Register's article is a complete shitshow in emulating the confusing language from the lawsuit. Luckily the complaint itself [1] refers to an Ars Technica article from 2021 which finally explains a bit more [2]. [1] https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Complaint_Wright-with-Exhibit.pdf https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Complaint_W... [2] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/even-creepier-covid-tracking-google-silently-pushed-app-to-users-phones/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/even-creepier-covid-...

colpabar 4y ago
Funny how the post without “Koch-funded” in the headline had such a different discussion when it was posted here last year. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27558500 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27558500 edit: I think it’s also worth pointing out that they are not suing for money (only lawyers fees and $1 nominal fee), they are just asking the government to stop working with google to install covid tracking apps that users cannot uninstall.
- throwaway5752 4y ago
  Why is that surprising. What Massachusetts and Google did is bad. This awful Koch funded group filing a class action lawsuit is also bad. Both are bad. edit: you ought to read the actual lawsuit - https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Complaint_Wright-with-Exhibit.pdf https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Complaint_W... before you make mistaken claims like "they are just asking the government to stop working with google to install covid tracking apps that users cannot uninstall". They have other goals.
  - colpabar 4y ago
    Why is filing the lawsuit bad? Isn’t that exactly what should happen here? Don’t you ever roll your eyes when you see a headline with “Soros-funded group does X” in it?
    - throwaway5752 4y ago
      Don’t you ever roll your eyes when you see a headline with “Soros-funded group does X” in it? No. I try to ignore headlines because they are a waste of my limited time and intentionally provocative. I read the articles sometimes, though. In this case, it is a strategic lawsuit, leveraging a popular and reasonable cause (what Massachusetts and Google did was wrong) in order to incrementally weaken precedents towards other, mostly unrelated, goals (also wrong). edit: The way groups like the NCLA operate is by weakening protections in a quiet way under the guise of populist and popular causes. I won't defend Mass or Google, because I don't agree with them here, but it does not follow that I should support the NCLA suit.
      - dmix 4y ago
        Which precedents? Governments getting to install arbitrary apps for "people’s own good"? Or making it difficult for gov/big tech to exploit an emergency to expand surveillance, that conveniently sticks around after the emergency ends?
        deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
      - friend_and_foe 4y ago
        FYI the comment replying to this one is a different person than the one this one is replying to, also you didn't actually answer the first, more pertinent question you're replying to.
      - Natsu 4y ago
        Thank you for linking the actual lawsuit earlier, I found it informative. That said, I'm trying but I'm not seeing what 'precedents' they're weakening, other than that the government can't force install tracking apps on one's phone without consent. Seems like they ask for a lot of declarations that this was unlawful and they shouldn't do it again, $1 in nominal damages, and attorney's fees. What sinister plans am I missing here? Just for reference, I voluntarily installed a Covid tracking app on my phone.
- lern_too_spel 4y ago
  No, they're just asking Google to stop installing apps that include the configuration for where to report COVID cases and where to get COVID cases that you were close to from. Users can uninstall the app, and the tracking happens outside the app.
- dang 4y ago
  I've taken that bit out of the title—its polarizing effect on discussion is so dramatic as to count as linkbait. (Yes, it would be the same the other way). "Please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait." - https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
tmsbrg 4y ago
Thanks for finding that. The Ars Technica article is actually informative journalism. The The Register article just leaves you confused about what's real and seems to focus more on who's involved than what's happened. Really creepy that Google is willing to work with governments to force install apps like that. Makes me think nobody should run stock Android.
- veeti 4y ago
  Stock Android has nothing to do with it, the same Play Services exist on every Android phone on the (western) market.
  - tmsbrg 4y ago
    Ah good point. I didn't realise that. I need to look into MicroG again. Any Android running Play Services basically has a massive backdoor.
    - SturgeonsLaw 4y ago
      Google controls the entire operating system, and in some cases the hardware, so it's a backdoor into the house they already own
  - ashwagary 4y ago
    Stock android has everything to do with it. Non-stock options allow you to remove Google Apps which include Play services.
Ptchd 4y ago
If YOU think that's ok, why does it need to be secret?
rsj_hn 4y ago
The register isn't a news site but a news aggregator. They are a bit like the IT version of Zero Hedge, where they dig up interesting factoids and then add their own short editorial, often inflammatory/sarcastic/humorous. IIRC, they have only editors on staff, not reporters. The little entertaining summaries and story selection is their value add, as they don't write the stories so they aren't going to give you the details.

colpabar 4y ago

Funny how the post without “Koch-funded” in the headline had such a different discussion when it was posted here last year. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27558500 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27558500 edit: I think it’s also worth pointing out that they are not suing for money (only lawyers fees and $1 nominal fee), they are just asking the government to stop working with google to install covid tracking apps that users cannot uninstall.

throwaway5752 4y ago
Why is that surprising. What Massachusetts and Google did is bad. This awful Koch funded group filing a class action lawsuit is also bad. Both are bad. edit: you ought to read the actual lawsuit - https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Complaint_Wright-with-Exhibit.pdf https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Complaint_W... before you make mistaken claims like "they are just asking the government to stop working with google to install covid tracking apps that users cannot uninstall". They have other goals.
- colpabar 4y ago
  Why is filing the lawsuit bad? Isn’t that exactly what should happen here? Don’t you ever roll your eyes when you see a headline with “Soros-funded group does X” in it?
  - throwaway5752 4y ago
    Don’t you ever roll your eyes when you see a headline with “Soros-funded group does X” in it? No. I try to ignore headlines because they are a waste of my limited time and intentionally provocative. I read the articles sometimes, though. In this case, it is a strategic lawsuit, leveraging a popular and reasonable cause (what Massachusetts and Google did was wrong) in order to incrementally weaken precedents towards other, mostly unrelated, goals (also wrong). edit: The way groups like the NCLA operate is by weakening protections in a quiet way under the guise of populist and popular causes. I won't defend Mass or Google, because I don't agree with them here, but it does not follow that I should support the NCLA suit.
    - dmix 4y ago
      Which precedents? Governments getting to install arbitrary apps for "people’s own good"? Or making it difficult for gov/big tech to exploit an emergency to expand surveillance, that conveniently sticks around after the emergency ends?
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
    - friend_and_foe 4y ago
      FYI the comment replying to this one is a different person than the one this one is replying to, also you didn't actually answer the first, more pertinent question you're replying to.
    - Natsu 4y ago
      Thank you for linking the actual lawsuit earlier, I found it informative. That said, I'm trying but I'm not seeing what 'precedents' they're weakening, other than that the government can't force install tracking apps on one's phone without consent. Seems like they ask for a lot of declarations that this was unlawful and they shouldn't do it again, $1 in nominal damages, and attorney's fees. What sinister plans am I missing here? Just for reference, I voluntarily installed a Covid tracking app on my phone.
lern_too_spel 4y ago
No, they're just asking Google to stop installing apps that include the configuration for where to report COVID cases and where to get COVID cases that you were close to from. Users can uninstall the app, and the tracking happens outside the app.
dang 4y ago
I've taken that bit out of the title—its polarizing effect on discussion is so dramatic as to count as linkbait. (Yes, it would be the same the other way). "Please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait." - https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

tmsbrg 4y ago

Thanks for finding that. The Ars Technica article is actually informative journalism. The The Register article just leaves you confused about what's real and seems to focus more on who's involved than what's happened. Really creepy that Google is willing to work with governments to force install apps like that. Makes me think nobody should run stock Android.

veeti 4y ago
Stock Android has nothing to do with it, the same Play Services exist on every Android phone on the (western) market.
- tmsbrg 4y ago
  Ah good point. I didn't realise that. I need to look into MicroG again. Any Android running Play Services basically has a massive backdoor.
  - SturgeonsLaw 4y ago
    Google controls the entire operating system, and in some cases the hardware, so it's a backdoor into the house they already own
- ashwagary 4y ago
  Stock android has everything to do with it. Non-stock options allow you to remove Google Apps which include Play services.

Ptchd 4y ago

If YOU think that's ok, why does it need to be secret?

rsj_hn 4y ago

The register isn't a news site but a news aggregator. They are a bit like the IT version of Zero Hedge, where they dig up interesting factoids and then add their own short editorial, often inflammatory/sarcastic/humorous. IIRC, they have only editors on staff, not reporters. The little entertaining summaries and story selection is their value add, as they don't write the stories so they aren't going to give you the details.