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Activists Angry After Apple Axes Anti-Firewall App
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "BBC reports that Chinese web users are criticizing Apple after the company pulled a free iPhone app called OpenDoor, which enables users to bypass firewalls and access restricted internet sites. The developers of OpenDoor — who wish to remain anonymous — told Radio Netherlands that Apple removed the app because it 'includes content that is illegal in China.' 'It is unclear to us how a simple browser app could include illegal contents, since it's the user's own choosing of what websites to view,' say the developers. 'Using the same definition, wouldn't all browser apps, including Apple's own Safari and Google's Chrome, include illegal contents?' Chinese internet users were disappointed by the move by Apple. Zhou Shuguang, a prominent Chinese blogger and citizen journalist, told U.S.-based Radio Free Asia that Apple had taken away one of the tools which internet users in China relied on to circumvent the country's great firewall. 'Apple is determined to have a share of the huge cake which is the Chinese internet market. Without strict self-censorship, it cannot enter the Chinese market,' says one Chinese user disappointed by the move by Apple."
But we already knew that
They could just put it in another market or sideload it, oh wait.
.... however, you can install apps from outside the Play Store on Android.
Apple are pretty much control freaks at the best of times. But you expect to be controlled one way or another if you buy in to a closed OS. And the US is just as controlling as China when they demand back doors to be included in security products to bypass encryption to spy on your data. If you think your in anyway living in a free country, no matter where you live, , then you must be high on something.
Of course if Apple didn't prevent users from loading whatever they like this would be a complete non-issue. This is only possible because Apple control what their users are allowed to do with their device, unless you're willing to invalidate your warranty or pay them an annual fee for the privilege.
the only reason China allows the iPhone in at all is that Apple has agreed to pull apps from that market that the government doesn't like. Bypassing The Great Firewall of China lands dead-center in that description. When doing business in China, you don't negotiate terms with Beijing. You take note of their terms, and you follow them, or you GTFO.
If you don't like that, consider the alternatives. No, let me correct that, the alternative. "NO IPHONE IN CHINA."
either way, you're not getting that app. At least this way you can still get the iPhone. (and Apple can still sell it there) It's a win-win. (Apple and the users in China) Some want it to be a win-win-win, but there's simply no way for those users to "win" in that way. Suggesting that Apple should fight this and get the iPhone pulled out of China is a cross between short-sighted and selfish. Apple is understandably going to say "no" when you try to take their ball and go home.
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
Apple obeys Chinese law by not allowing their citizens to bypass censorship , and it obeys US law by providing private information on the Chinese users to the US authorities :)
This is not a signature.
Apple can't make value judgements on Chinese internet laws because that would lead to fewer sales. Corporations do not have morals. The only motivation of a corporation is to maximize shareholder value, and a CEO is required to act in this interest by law. A corporation can thus not make moral judgements that act against maximizing shareholder value, any CEO who allowed that is opening themselves up to a huge class action lawsuit.
Even companies that do things that might seem non-self-serving (say, Starbucks and their fair trade coffee and/or climate change pro-activeness), have to actually in fact be doing so out of self interest (example again, Starbucks CEO Howard Shutlz has gone on the record many times saying that Starbucks actions on the environment are not out of charity; in fact it is because the long-term view of the company is that climate change will damage coffee crops worldwide and this hurt their bottom line significantly).
This is the plain honest truth. If you don't like it, *then get the system changed*. Don't blame Apple or Tim Cook, they actually are not allowed to operate any other way.
Crappy CongressCritters Congratulate Cunning Corporate Collusion.
This may come as a surprise, but some companies make choices that don't come down to simply "profits." Some companies make decisions because they fit inline with the stated company culture and values and though it may not turn a profit it is the 'right thing to do'.
I know, mind blowing.
You knew what was going on when you went into the project.
While true, Apple still carries a large amount of responsibility for locking people into its marketplace prison. If sideloading were an option, people could still get by without Apple's (or the Chinese Government's) consent.
That being said, I find it really, really hard to sympathize with Apple customers when they get burned over and over again without learning their lesson. It's like Homer (or was it Bart?) Simpson touching the hot stove: "doh!"..."doh!"..."doh!"....
Of course if Apple didn't prevent users from loading whatever they like this would be a complete non-issue. This is only possible because Apple control what their users are allowed to do with their device, unless you're willing to invalidate your warranty or pay them an annual fee for the privilege.
Who says it would be a non-issue?
Chinese government: People are using this app on the iPhone, which is illegal.
Apple: Sorry, nothing we can do about it.
Chinese government: No sales of iPhones until that is fixed.