Apple Transfers Chinese Users' iCloud Data to State-Run Servers in China

[canadianreader]

I don’t see Trudeau cutting off all trade with China or demanding they change their laws either.

They’re the same they claim virtue while doing the opposite

 

[69Mustang]

LOL!

Comparing me against the CEO of the most popular company in the world!

I am flattered

I wouldn't bow to China so graciously. And I would acknowledge, though US has a massive trade deficit with China, Apple has an entire economy built around it and being the leader of said company, I hold some weight rather than none at all.

instead of supporting China at every turn, and alienating everyone in my company that didn't like Hillary Clinton internally at every turn, I would support USA, use China for what I need to use them for, and acknowledge that diversity extends to diversity of opinion and I don't care which party or candidate you like, I acknowledge that no amount of virtue signaling will change peoples' minds, principles, and morals. So I would do what a tech CEO should: focus on my tech company. Rather than one foot in the door, and one foot out politicking.

I would also use WWDC as a dev conference, not as an opportunity to shill for Michelle Obama.

But that's because when they go low ,I go high, you know what I mean?

So your answer to the "problem" of China is rhetoric? Okay, I guess. Not really a viable solution, but it does fill a thread with rhetoric.

 

[Jesse Waugh]

Basically iCloud is a trap. Use at your own risk. Assume everything on it is being scrutinized daily by the govt and that your backups are being cloned to another device. The choice is yours whether to use it or not. It certainly isn't necessary.

People are fooling themselves believing Apple is any different from any other company when it comes to privacy. Maybe it used to be.
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How does Apple deal with the data of non-citizens who just happen to be visiting or living long term in China? Will their data get sucked into the Chinese data center as well?

*hive
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So, now the Chinese will have their sexts and cat videos monitored by a CCP instead of an NSA spook. That seems like a lateral move.

Brilliant
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What's your solution? Apple leave China.


Apple understands that you can't fight the same battle everywhere, every time. Your solution would be...

I don’t know — integrity??

 

[justperry]

So, If understand this correctly it's easy to circumvent, just set it to a different region and you are set.

Trouble is, not many (%-wise) Chinese speak/understand another (mostly (international) English) language so they are stuck, or might it be a solution to set it to Taiwan or even Singapore, plenty of Chinese there although I don't know if the AppStore is in Chinese.

 

[thadoggfather]

So your answer to the "problem" of China is rhetoric? Okay, I guess. Not really a viable solution, but it does fill a thread with rhetoric.

I’m not in a position to solve the problem so it’s absurd for you to want me to. That’s not my job title: ceo of Apple. But sure I think Tim could NOT put iCloud on state run servers and not give China the keys. I think abstaining from doing so, like he did up until not, is an option. He has no backbone and beyond that, I believe malicious and careless intentions. Many feel he *has* to put iCloud on state servers tho, and has no leverage otherwise he wouldn’t do it, for reasons they can’t Articulate, but are adamant he must and there’s no other options on the table. Many defend everything Tim Cook does because he runs Apple. I say Apple is better than Tim Cook. Or should be. Or could be.


when people criticize Trump, my first argument / reaction isn’t: well then why don’t you be president? I don’t know who you are so why would I wanna task you with something as important as that?

 

[nt5672]

How does Apple deal with the data of non-citizens who just happen to be visiting or living long term in China? Will their data get sucked into the Chinese data center as well?

For the right price I'll bet Apple will move all user data to China.
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Anything that’s connected to the Internet has no privacy. It’s just a fact of life, there’s literally nothing you can do to stop a three letter agency or state actors from accessing your data should they choose to do so. Well, short of never using a cell phone or Internet.

I get your point, resistance is futile so give up and watch cartoons instead. Great plan.

 

[dampfnudel]

Apple values democracy, equal rights and freedom of speech as long as it doesn’t cost them money

Maybe someday Tim will clear everything up for us in his book telling us his regrets while working at Apple like sacrificing his values when it came to his interactions with the Chinese government and being two-faced all in the pursuit of endless cash reserves. Yeah, I know the “defenders” will say it’s a complicated dance with the Chine$e government, it’s a neces$ary evil, it i$ what it is, yada, yada...

 

[69Mustang]

I’m not in a position to solve the problem so it’s absurd for you to want me to. That’s not my job title: ceo of Apple. But sure I think Tim could NOT put iCloud on state run servers and not give China the keys. I think abstaining from doing so, like he did up until not, is an option. He has no backbone and beyond that, I believe malicious and careless intentions. Many feel he *has* to put iCloud on state servers tho, and has no leverage otherwise he wouldn’t do it, for reasons they can’t Articulate, but are adamant he must and there’s no other options on the table. Many defend everything Tim Cook does because he runs Apple. I say Apple is better than Tim Cook. Or should be. Or could be.


when people criticize Trump, my first argument / reaction isn’t: well then why don’t you be president? I don’t know who you are so why would I wanna task you with something as important as that?

The thing is, no one is asking you to be the CEO. You are being asked to render an opinion. That only requires you to say what you think a solution to the problem could be. It simple. If you don't have a solution, that's perfectly fine. But don't hide behind "I'm not a CEO." It hasn't stopped you from rendering an opinion about anything else surrounding this subject.

 

[thadoggfather]

The thing is, no one is asking you to be the CEO. You are being asked to render an opinion. That only requires you to say what you think a solution to the problem could be. It simple. If you don't have a solution, that's perfectly fine. But don't hide behind "I'm not a CEO." It hasn't stopped you from rendering an opinion about anything else surrounding this subject.

Fair.

My Unnuanced opinion is iCloud is better off not on state run servers. And the keys are better off not in the hands of Chinese

Mind boggling conclusions, right?

 

[69Mustang]

I don’t know — integrity??

That's a non-answer. How exactly would one manifest that integrity? Not having an answer is more than acceptable answer. Infinitely more acceptable than a generic platitude.
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Fair.

My Unnuanced opinion is iCloud is better off not on state run servers. And the keys are better off not in the hands of Chinese

Mind boggling conclusions, right?

1. iCloud data would be better off not stored on state run Chinese servers. Pretty sure hardly anyone would disagree.
2. The keys are better off not in the hands of the Chinese. Again, hardly anyone would agree.

So what would you do? <= That was my question. We already know what you think about the above two points.

 

[JosephAW]

Once a govmnt can access your data they can plant contraband into your account which will sync to your phone and you will be arrested and you will have to prove your innocence which is impossible against a govmnt. Great way for govmnts to eliminate people of opposing views. Hey why don't we try that here?

 

[magicschoolbus]

is US iCloud data in China too?

I will NOT give my data to the Chinese government.

Apple.. the poster boy for corporate greed and social good. What a shocker!

 

[simonmet]

Are you talking to Chinese forum members, or in general? Apple has some of the most consumer focused privacy policies, so if you're worried about what they're doing with your data you must run a mile from Google, Facebook etc..

Oh trust me, I do!

 

[Stella]

Too much $$$$ in lose in China.

There aren’t any $$$ repercussions for giving the finger to apple’s home country when such issues arise.

 

[lec0rsaire]

I would definitely not feel comfortable using cloud services in China. I hope people over there move to local storage only. It’s terrible for the young Chinese people who want progress. China was opening itself up more by embracing capitalism and moving more towards quasi-democracy and now they end up with a dictator in Xi Jinping who will rule for the next 20-30 years. I believe even typing his name is now prohibited because of the recent online protests regarding his recent power grab.

 

[nicho]

It’s terrible for the young Chinese people who want progress.

That all depends how you want to progress.

There's a thousand levels between peasant and President.

 

[lec0rsaire]

That all depends how you want to progress.

There's a thousand levels between peasant and President.

I’m obviously referring to more freedom of expression. I don’t see why allowing a little bit of healthy dissent would be a bad thing for the country. Most people support the party. They will not change their minds because of some activists. It would also improve international relations.

China’s mixed system has really improved the standard of living for many Chinese in a remarkable short period of time. This is indisputable. No other country has seen this kind of growth in just a generation.