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Side-loading apps is not the mecca you think it is. It's going to create even more walled gardens, except this time, companies like meta don't have a fear of be

Side-loading apps is not the mecca you think it is. It's going to create even more walled gardens, except this time, companies like meta don't have a fear of being yanked from the app store when they engage in practices that are harmful to user privacy. Should a mega corp like apple be the gatekeepers for this kind of stuff? In an ideal world no, but at least they are the only ones doing it.

aspenmayer 3y ago
And if/when that happens and in the interim, end user can install a proper VPN and firewall on their iDevice instead of what we have now. https://www.michaelhorowitz.com/VPNs.on.iOS.are.scam.php https://www.michaelhorowitz.com/VPNs.on.iOS.are.scam.php
kelnos 3y ago
People could, y'know, just not install the Facebook app, if they're unhappy with Meta's privacy practices. Of course, given that Meta's privacy practices are already atrocious, and people still use Facebook, I guess maybe it just doesn't matter? I agree that side-loading apps is no panacea; I use Android, and while I do have the F-Droid store installed, and even side-load a small utility app or two that I've written myself but can't be bothered to make publicly available, I'm actually not sure I know anyone in person who uses anything but the Play Store. But having the option there, to me -- even if I didn't use it -- is huge. Hell, having the option to install a third-party OS on the phone (even though I don't do it, because it would involve too many compromises to my daily use) is huge. That should be the default, not this locked-down nonsense Apple forces on everyone. It's just sad to me that so many people accept it as ok and normal.
- gretch 3y ago
  > People could, y'know, just not install the Facebook app, if they're unhappy with Meta's privacy practices. Of course, given that Meta's privacy practices are already atrocious, and people still use Facebook, I guess maybe it just doesn't matter? Just apply this same reasoning to Apple iPhones. Everyone says sideloading is a big deal, but it turns out that when the phones don't have sideloading, people still use them anyway. I guess maybe it just doesn't matter.
  - smoldesu 3y ago
    Alternatively, hold both companies to higher standards through regulation and start treating technology as a secular field of businesses instead of the World Cup.
    - gretch 3y ago
      Your “higher standard” is only “higher” for your preferences. Personally I’m happy with both the operation of Facebook and Apple. I do not wish a 3rd party with no track record of technical innovation, and especially not the US government, come and make some rules about what is a “higher standard”.
      - smoldesu 3y ago
        > Personally I’m happy with both the operation of Facebook and Apple. You should have higher standards too, then.
        gretch 3y ago
        You are someone who is convinced that those with different preferences than you must be dumb or irrational. My standards are plenty high. They just aren’t aligned with your world views.
        smoldesu 3y ago
        I didn't call you dumb or irrational, I suggested that you raise your standards to exclude Apple and Facebook's behavior as "acceptable". You could also do nothing, and just adapt to sideloading and anti-Meta regulation when they both come around.
        gretch 3y ago
        > You should have higher standards too, then. That's right you didn't call me dumb or irrational, you're just using a metaphor where you look down on me from your higher plane.
tick_tock_tick 3y ago
I mean the reason Apple took action against Facebook was because they were trying to get traction on their own Ads platform. They didn't stop tracking on iphone they just made it so they were the only ones that can do it. Aka they used their position to crush competition not to increase privacy. They absolutely could have taken the opportunity to improve privacy overall but that would have limited their own ads platform so they didn't.

aspenmayer 3y ago

And if/when that happens and in the interim, end user can install a proper VPN and firewall on their iDevice instead of what we have now. https://www.michaelhorowitz.com/VPNs.on.iOS.are.scam.php https://www.michaelhorowitz.com/VPNs.on.iOS.are.scam.php

kelnos 3y ago

People could, y'know, just not install the Facebook app, if they're unhappy with Meta's privacy practices. Of course, given that Meta's privacy practices are already atrocious, and people still use Facebook, I guess maybe it just doesn't matter? I agree that side-loading apps is no panacea; I use Android, and while I do have the F-Droid store installed, and even side-load a small utility app or two that I've written myself but can't be bothered to make publicly available, I'm actually not sure I know anyone in person who uses anything but the Play Store. But having the option there, to me -- even if I didn't use it -- is huge. Hell, having the option to install a third-party OS on the phone (even though I don't do it, because it would involve too many compromises to my daily use) is huge. That should be the default, not this locked-down nonsense Apple forces on everyone. It's just sad to me that so many people accept it as ok and normal.

gretch 3y ago
> People could, y'know, just not install the Facebook app, if they're unhappy with Meta's privacy practices. Of course, given that Meta's privacy practices are already atrocious, and people still use Facebook, I guess maybe it just doesn't matter? Just apply this same reasoning to Apple iPhones. Everyone says sideloading is a big deal, but it turns out that when the phones don't have sideloading, people still use them anyway. I guess maybe it just doesn't matter.
- smoldesu 3y ago
  Alternatively, hold both companies to higher standards through regulation and start treating technology as a secular field of businesses instead of the World Cup.
  - gretch 3y ago
    Your “higher standard” is only “higher” for your preferences. Personally I’m happy with both the operation of Facebook and Apple. I do not wish a 3rd party with no track record of technical innovation, and especially not the US government, come and make some rules about what is a “higher standard”.
    - smoldesu 3y ago
      > Personally I’m happy with both the operation of Facebook and Apple. You should have higher standards too, then.
      - gretch 3y ago
        You are someone who is convinced that those with different preferences than you must be dumb or irrational. My standards are plenty high. They just aren’t aligned with your world views.
        smoldesu 3y ago
        I didn't call you dumb or irrational, I suggested that you raise your standards to exclude Apple and Facebook's behavior as "acceptable". You could also do nothing, and just adapt to sideloading and anti-Meta regulation when they both come around.
        gretch 3y ago
        > You should have higher standards too, then. That's right you didn't call me dumb or irrational, you're just using a metaphor where you look down on me from your higher plane.

tick_tock_tick 3y ago

I mean the reason Apple took action against Facebook was because they were trying to get traction on their own Ads platform. They didn't stop tracking on iphone they just made it so they were the only ones that can do it. Aka they used their position to crush competition not to increase privacy. They absolutely could have taken the opportunity to improve privacy overall but that would have limited their own ads platform so they didn't.