U.S. Senators Ask Apple Why VPN Apps Were Removed From China App Store

[guzhogi]

People? You mean both democrats and republicans? 90+% of the vote? I bet you're a democrat and now you are ripping on democrats? Rethink your argument.

It is possible to be part of a group and still find fault with them. Also, you can find positives in a rival group. I agree with a lot of what democrats say, but I also disagree with some of their things. I also agree with some of what Republicans say, and also disagree with other things. It's not black & white, my friend. It's not like one group can do no wrong and the other can do no right.

 

[guzhogi]

So if the rules of THAT land said images of child abuse was fine, then you would expect Apple to support this and not remove any such images as they are ok in THAT country where they are selling their phones?

Not really. There's a difference between being able to do something and must do that thing.

 

[kemal]

Following the law in China means enabling the intent of the law in China.

 

[Sikh]

These two sound like idiots. Apple is conforming to the Chinese government on the CHINESE version of the App Store BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO. Just like they have to deal with "privacy concerns" from the US government and also information requests from the US government.

Both of these guys are idiots

 

[Rafterman]

"Apple had pulled the VPN apps first arrived in July, following regulations passed earlier in the year that require such apps to be authorized by the Chinese government."

Um, is that not clear?

 

[zed2]

It has a monopoly on the distribution of of apps for iOS.

Android and BB10 don't have this because they are not as greedy.

monopoly or not doesn't matter... you have a choice.. don't like it, don't buy IOS devices. At the end of the day more people like the platform, and prefer devices which are better secured from hacks and malware.

 

[cube]

monopoly or not doesn't matter... you have a choice.. don't like it, don't buy IOS devices. At the end of the day more people like the platform, and prefer devices which are better secured from hacks and malware.

BlackBerry has hardware security that iOS lacks.

 

[dogslobber]

What has this got to do with the US Congress/Senate? I don't agree with the request but I also don't see the relevance to US government jurisdiction.

 

[jiggad369]

This government is a joke and an international embarrassment.

 

[macTW]

“Apple better listen to the US government! We need a back hole to gather data in!”

“Wait. Why did you listen to the Chinese government?? So dumb of you Apple!”

-US politicians.

 

[NomadicTy]

And they are trying to make people think they care about speech (things that some SJW are noisy about) in China (while they themselves supported draconian policies in the US).

SJW's are noisy about speech alright. Shouting down, throwing tantrums, beating people up, and just outright causing havoc when someone speaks of something they do not agree about.

SJW's are not about free speech at all.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

They have the NERVE to ask Apple what it has done to promote free speech in China? Are they kidding?

Apple is a corporation, not an advocacy group, and it is not Apple's responsibility to use its great resources to promote the US political agenda in other countries - whatever that agenda might be. If Apple wants to do business in other countries, it damn well better respect the laws in those countries or it should not do business there.

I would flip these so-called senators the bird.

 

[The Barron]

Simple answer: It's the law in China. These senators must know that.

Teddy is such a two-faced tool. One moment he's kissing Trump' a** & the next he's sounding tough. Hah! Along with Tillerson, Teddy was also at the castration last weekend!

 

[Hirakata]

It seems he became white when he was conceived.

I see. So by that logic, Barack Obama is white.

 

[cube]

I see. So by that logic, Barack Obama is white.

No.

 

[x0vash0x]

Individuals can still use VPNs, but it's kind of a grey area. Reportedly, China is looking to ban all individual VPN access in early 2018, so their demand from Apple makes those reports appear to have validity. It's widely known and blogged that individuals who have used VPNs in the last year or two, say on their phone, will all of a sudden find their phone service deactivated.

Note that businesses can and do use VPNs in China, since they need to in order to conduct business. But companies must still receive approval from China in order to use them.

This. VPNs are not illegal, they just need to be registered with the government. So, if you’re a VPN company you can operate, but only with approval from the Chinese government. This makes any official VPN basically worthless because everyone knows the Chinese government is going to be monitoring VPN traffic.

Business can use corporate VPN but they must register with the government as well.

It’s super easy to go to Hong Kong, download a VPN, cross the boarder back into China. The only thing this does is make it difficult for iOS users to get a VPN.

 

[laz232]

HA! This is coming from senators that support the Patriot Act. A law the hurts the freedoms of every american and allows the US government the right to spy on us.
I think this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

But these fine senators are proponents of freedom (TM) and free speech (smallprint: in other countries, when it suits them)!

 

[Hirakata]

No.

Ok, so there is no logic to it. Like all news media outlets, whether on television or online, truths are manipulated as needed to fit one's agenda. Got it!

 

[cube]

Ok, so there is no logic to it. Like all news media outlets, whether on television or online, truths are manipulated as needed to fit one's agenda. Got it!

There's logic. What there's not is a scientifically specified threshold.

 

[ke-iron]

How about these US senators worry about the issues we have here in America first. What a bunch of lousy people we have running the country, they don't seem to have their priorities in order.

 

[Hirakata]

There's logic. What there's not is a scientifically specified threshold.

Now that I can agree with.

 

[laz232]

So what? It’s not remotely illegal for Apple to decide how it’s own product works. The only possible point at which anti-trust law might apply to the App Store would be if Apple was at or near 100% of the smartphone market. Since it’s not even close it doesn’t matter whether iOS allows side loading because you, as the consumer, are 100% free to buy a competitors product. If you don’t like Apples approach to App Store management you can buy an Android phone, meaning it’s NOT A MONOPOLY.

No matter how many times you repeat your incorrect claim it will still be incorrect (and illogical).

IANAL, but the fact that alternatives exist doesn't mean that it's not an abuse of monopoly power, e
.g.:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.
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The 2 senators would would be much more believable if they were to support an arms embargo against all countries with human rights record like China or worse.

Just for starters.

Would be bad for the economy:
2015 US arms exports in million constant (1990) U.S. dollars:
Saudi Arabia 1,764
Australia 903
UAE 895
Iraq 705
Taiwan (ROC) 681
Egypt 585
Qatar 525
Mexico 371
Kuwait 366
Indonesia 364
United Kingdom 362
Turkey 308

 

[magicschoolbus]

Judging? How?
Are those two old? Yes.
Are they white? Yes.
Are they men? Yes.
Those are facts. Don’t tell me you are offended by facts. Trumper much?

And they are trying to make people think they care about speech (things that some SJW are noisy about) in China (while they themselves supported draconian policies in the US). Add on to the fact that China has its own laws where businesses must comply to do business there. Can foreign companies do business in the US without following US regulations? No.

If these were two black women and I made your comment; would that be okay?

 

[gaximus]

Simple answer: It's the law in China. These senators must know that.

Exactly, just because we believe it's wrong doesn't really matter. I don't agree with most speed limits, does that mean I can speed.
[doublepost=1508516896][/doublepost]

It is a monopoly, similar in style to when coffee machine makers sue companies making compatible capsules because they are protected by a patent.

I know everyone has already said this , but you obviously don't know what a monopoly is. Name one coffee machine maker that has a monopoly. Suing someone for breaking a patent has nothing to do with a monopoly. Apple does not have a monopoly on apps, in fact they make very few, and are available on both platforms. Apple may restrict how you get an app, but that has nothing to do with a monopoly.

 

[Mansu944]

Judging? How?
Are those two old? Yes.
Are they white? Yes.
Are they men? Yes.
Those are facts. Don’t tell me you are offended by facts. Trumper much?

And they are trying to make people think they care about speech (things that some SJW are noisy about) in China (while they themselves supported draconian policies in the US). Add on to the fact that China has its own laws where businesses must comply to do business there. Can foreign companies do business in the US without following US regulations? No.

Why is White relevant? or their age or gender?