Apple Calls New Russian Smartphone Sales Legislation 'Equivalent to Jailbreaking'

[neliason]

The future though for country's that are not really strong democracies (privacy, govts controlling / monitoring everything) - looks pretty bleak...tyranny delivered via technology at an individual level (as Russia is obviously trying to pry open here).

Democracy isn’t a solution. The Weimar Republic was a very strong democracy, yet it led to Nazi Germany. All the communist countries proudly called themselves democratic republics. The US spied and probably still spies on all electronic communication. People are more than happy to democratically give up any right to privacy in the name of being kept safe.

What you want is small or limited government, and many different forms of government can be limited. However, all forms of government tend to take on more and more power over time. So really what you want is a vigilant and honorable people willing to fight to maintain their freedom. Unfortunately this is a rare thing to find and when found usually doesn’t last very long.

 

[fourthtunz]

NSA. PRISM. Mass surveillance. Secret courts issuing National Security Letters. Guantanamo.

But sure, it's always the other countries that do the really, really bad things that violate everybody's rights.

We here in the US do not to admit that our government does heinous things and is not
at all under our control. In reality we have a one world government.

 

[2010mini]

Whenever subjects like this comes up, people are always quick to say ‘those other countries are so evil’ ‘oh the violation of freedoms’ blah, blah blah

meanwhile we completely gloss over the USA’s history of violating it’s own citizens’ rights:
concentration camps
forced sterilizations
Cointelpro
NSA mass spying
PRISM
Guantanamo
secret courts

we aren’t innocent ourselves.

 

[MadDawg2020]

No, not wrong. Set yourself a reminder about you thinking Apple is going to just pull their devices from the entire Russian market. The only person who believes this is yourself and few Apple loving extremists on here. They sure showed the Chinese Government that they'll not be forced to do any changes to their hardware/software platform or the App store marketplace; didn't they?

So far Apple has complied with Chinese law banning specific apps and services.
Compliance is something every business does in every nation they deal with! Even the United States has forced compliance and regulations on electronics which every company selling here must adapt to to have their products approved by the FCC, for example the radios in iPhones cannot by law by allowed to interfere with or access transmissions on certain frequencies - mostly those used by the military.
Every country has similar rules. A key difference is China blocks certain apps and services where the US does not seem so concerned with that - although civilian issue US iPhones cannot access certain secured Government Networks without software modifications - the same way many corporations will block your phone at the hardware level without custom software keys.

Apple has NOT handed over any encryption keys nor have they made a ‘back door’ to allow access bypassing security. Now are they pre-installing a Chinese Government made iOS. and while certain apps and services are blocked - China does not seem so concerned with accessing an individuals personal device.
What Russia is proposing is to instal a custom made Russian iOS (and every other operating system)on every device sold which would likely bypass Apple’s security granting the Russian Government direct unrestricted access to an individuals device - likely without that individuals knowledge and certainly not consent!

Also China is one of Apple’s largest markets worldwide as well as where the majority of their products are manufactured. If Apple left China it would cripple the entire company in sales and manufacturing for years as they rebuild.
Except for retail sakes, Apple has no significant presence in Russia - and globally it is a pretty small market , leaving there might affect short term sales but little else will change long term.

 

[CHA05 R31GN5]

So far Apple has complied with Chinese law...

This is all you or anyone else knows and needs to know. Won't be any different.

 

[alexandr]

Just give 'em a pre-installed U2 album and see how quick they back-pedal on their demands

omg i love it! you read my mind even though i wasn't even thinking this)))

 

[aplnub]

Honestly, Russia isn't that big of a country for this to matter.

People think Russia is like China. It's not, it's far more like Italy.

Apple pulling out of Russia would be a power move and a worthwhile tactic, IMHO.

Smaller than California. I wouldn't bend the knee regardless.

 

[alexandr]

this can really go either way. russia is only about 1% of apple's market, but let's not forget that we're still talking about billions of dollars. and if the latest mac pro and display pro(with stand) didn't convince you of apple's incredible greed, we will probably not agree here either. this wouldn't be the first time that apple changes something about their devices for a sake of a market. they made a physically different phone for china for crying out loud. that's just a tad more difficult than preloading software... but we'll see.

 

[Cosmosent]

I think a better idea would be for Russia to work with Apple to setup a new App Store filter, "Show ONLY Russian Developed Apps," that their citizens could set.

It would be a compromise solution.

IMO, Apple should offer this for every country !

The App Store in its current state is catastrophically broken, & I believe the Russian Govt gripe is legit (but NOT the way they are going at it).

● It's a "curated" App Store !

● The guy running the App Store, Phil Schiller, has NO software development experience !

● Apple plays favorites (see Nov 25th) !

● Look how much Enthusiasm, OR more precisely lack thereof, Apple generated so-far today with their so-called Best Of Picks !

 

[burgman]

NSA. PRISM. Mass surveillance. Secret courts issuing National Security Letters. Guantanamo.

But sure, it's always the other countries that do the really, really bad things that violate everybody's rights.

Don’t forget the President advocacy for attacking the news media who don’t bend over for him. That’s very Russian.

 

[npmacuser5]

Large enough market? Two choices, get out if no or stay in with a Russian designed iPhone. Never give up intellectual properties.

 

[CHA05 R31GN5]

Smaller than California. I wouldn't bend the knee regardless.

iOS is approximately 40% of the mobile OS market in Russia. They're not going anywhere.

 

[Col4bin]

Honestly, Russia isn't that big of a country for this to matter.

People think Russia is like China. It's not, it's far more like Italy.

Apple pulling out of Russia would be a power move and a worthwhile tactic, IMHO.

Russia is one of the world's largest emerging markets, and as part of BRIC, Apple has a lot to gain by continuing to conduct business there. This should be interesting.

 

[CHA05 R31GN5]

Honestly, Russia isn't that big of a country for this to matter.

People think Russia is like China. It's not, it's far more like Italy.

Apple pulling out of Russia would be a power move and a worthwhile tactic, IMHO.

Russia is definitely not China in terms of population and mobile device usage. But, it's also certainly not comparable to Italy either. I'd say if you're going to compare then at least choose one whereby the population to mobile device ownership/usage is much closer. Maybe like Brazil or Japan.

 

[AustinIllini]

Russia is definitely not China in terms of population and mobile device usage. But, it's also certainly not comparable to Italy either. I'd say if you're going to compare then at least choose one whereby the population to mobile device ownership/usage is much closer. Maybe like Brazil or Japan.

Actually, I was wrong, Russia doesn't come close to Italy and NOWHERE NEAR Japan.

Russia has the 11th largest GDP. That's below Brazil, way below Italy. Below California. Way below Japan.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Meanwhile, they bend to China's demand that allows people to be imprisoned or killed with little to no cause.

Too bad Russia doesn't build any of their stuff, then they'd follow the money and just comply and then defend the decision to comply!

Apple is lost.

i think it’s more about selling products and potential revenue streams not simply where they heir products are built/assembled.

Russian citizens old enough to purchase products vs Chinese & Hong King residents old enough to purchase products. There is where you’ll find how big or small Apples minerals are in tens of such a stance.

 

[CHA05 R31GN5]

Actually, I was wrong, Russia doesn't come close to Italy and NOWHERE NEAR Japan.

Russia has the 11th largest GDP. That's below Brazil, way below Italy. Below California. Way below Japan.

We're not talking about GDP and Apple products aren't even produced in any of the three countries. I really think you just like throwing out terms because it sounds good to you.

Market share for mobile device usage is never accurate but is close enough for estimating whether a particular company decides to begin offering their products. Russia is not China or the US but it's certainly not ranked where this dude wants to place them. Apple's not going anywhere in Russia's market, even with this policy becoming mandatory in July.

Mobile Device Usage Per Country

 

[NickName99]

Actually, I was wrong, Russia doesn't come close to Italy and NOWHERE NEAR Japan.

Russia has the 11th largest GDP. That's below Brazil, way below Italy. Below California. Way below Japan.

This makes sense, now that I think about the last time I saw anything for sale that was made in Russia. Cars? Clothing or accessories? Electronics? Food? Name one thing where you’d be like “ooh it’s Russian? Nice!”

 

[WWPD]

This makes sense, now that I think about the last time I saw anything for sale that was made in Russia. Cars? Clothing or accessories? Electronics? Food? Name one thing where you’d be like “ooh it’s Russian? Nice!”

Vodka?

 

[Breaking Good]

If major tech companies like Apple, Google, Samsung, etc. all just simply refuse to sell their products in Russia as a result of this legislation I have a feeling the legislation would disappear very quickly.

No. It won't. Huawei will be very happy to fill the hole left by Apple, Google and Samsung and the Russian oligarchs will just fly to Dubai or Western Europe to buy the Apple devices.

It doesn't matter if you talking about big government or big companies, they are one in the same.

 

[UnusedLoginID]

Meanwhile, they bend to China's demand that allows people to be imprisoned or killed with little to no cause.

Too bad Russia doesn't build any of their stuff, then they'd follow the money and just comply and then defend the decision to comply!

Apple is lost.

iPhones in China are different models than the US because of Chinese software installed or US software removed and other “perks” like no eSIM to make them easily trackable by you know who.
No different than iPhones in UAE (Dubai) which can’t do FaceTime.
There’s precedent and Putin is just following upon the other dictatorships where human rights have no place that Apple has already conceded to.

 

[NickName99]

Vodka?

I just now googled a bunch of “best vodka” lists and found nothing Russian. Lots of Swedish brands, some Polish and USA brands. Russia isn’t even any good for Vodka, what the heck?!

 

[Icculus]

Socialism is a type of policy. We live in a democratic republic, but we also have many socialist policies. Do you like snow plows? Fire departments? Etc etc... People who complain about socialism are usually ignorant to the fact that they make use of socialistic policies and services all the time.
[automerge]1575390018[/automerge]

Can you quote where she said the "world will end" in 15 years? Irreversible or dramatic changes isn't the same as ending. We're on track to be the hottest decade in recorded data.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/2642481002

She said it was a joke later, whatever. I was wrong it’s 12 years, not 15. I am not getting a climate change argument all I am pointing out is this woman is a wacko and shouldn’t be in public office.

 

[Seoras]

Oh the irony. Wasn't long ago that I saw a Russian Advert aimed at young women telling them to support and vote for Putin and you could win an iPad.
Apple will pull out of Russian but those who can afford Apple products will just skip across the board, shop and bring them back.
Can't see Tim being too upset at losing that Homophobic country.
More worrying though is which other countries might follow them down that path.

 

[waquzy]

Russia is irrelevant nowadays, they are not represented at the Olympic Games due to cheating, the only country to EVER manage this, who even cares about Russia? They are just embarrassing!