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Apple Reportedly Disables Its News App In China (nytimes.com)

Posted by Soulskill on from the you-don't-need-to-know-that dept.

An anonymous reader writes: When Apple launched iOS 9, it replaced its Newsstand app with Apple News. The software has only been available to users in the U.S., but those who registered their phones in the U.S. had no problem using the app while overseas. Now, the NY Times reports that Apple is specifically disabling the app for users located in China. "Those in China who look at the top of the Apple News feed, which would normally display a list of selected articles based on a user's preferred media, instead see an error message: 'Can't refresh right now. News isn't supported in your current region.' ... Beijing generally insists that companies are responsible for censoring sensitive content inside China. In Apple's case, that would mean it would probably have to develop a censorship system — most Chinese companies use a combination of automated software and employees — to eliminate sensitive articles from feeds."

11 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. SubjectsInCommentsAreStupid by lesincompetent · · Score: 2

    Totalitarian regime goes hand in hand with the chinese government.
    I struggle to see the news.

    1. Re:SubjectsInCommentsAreStupid by geekmux · · Score: 2

      Totalitarian regime goes hand in hand with the chinese government. I struggle to see the news.

      This is news. It's called an instruction set to inform the rest of the world how NOT to act. And quite frankly, humans are lemmings who will follow the status quo, so they need that reminder more than they think they do.

      When you do not report violations of rights, those violations become the norm. Then they become accepted. Then they become defended. Then they become law. Then they become an example for other countries to follow.

      Don't give other countries the excuse.

    2. Re:SubjectsInCommentsAreStupid by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 5, Funny

      I struggle to see the news.

      Are you in China?

  2. but their commercials say it's for free thinkers? by tommeke100 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Think Different commercial
    1984 commercial

  3. The best way to state your case against censorship by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...Is to sell computers with the warning that "News is not supported in your region."

    Chinese users will figure out how to route around the problem.

  4. Re:Not surprising by rmdingler · · Score: 2

    Chinese tend to be very compliant people. When asked about censorship issues, most Chinese will say they appreciate their government insulating them from sensitive information as it makes them feel more comfortable.

    Of course they are!

    One would imagine a good bit of the genetic predisposition towards questioning authority has been bred right out of the populace.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

  5. Re:Where's Tim Cook's activism now? by rmdingler · · Score: 2
    Tim Cook's take on Chinese treatment of gays?

    Not favorable if this article on shock therapy is to be believed.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

  6. Re:Heavy handed approach? by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 3, Informative

    So instead of localized news, you get no news, *at all*?

    Yes. Because in this case, "localized news" means "doing the Chinese government's censorship for them." That's a principled stance--not the most principled stance, but Apple does need to show a profit.

    Why even put the app there? Furthermore, why would someone not in China want the extra code to perform this check on their phone? What purpose would it serve in this case?

    It shows the Chinese user what he's missing--although this may or may not have been part of Apple's intention. The main thing is this isn't about the phone, it's about where the phone is. When you take it into China, this happens. When you take it out of China, it stops happening. So all phones have the code since any phone might be taken into China (if I'm reading this correctly, it isn't code in the phone performing the check, it's Apple's News servers doing it when the phone asks for News).

  7. Re:Not surprising by rmdingler · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That is a profoundly racist outlook. It's exactly the expression of a racist point of view.

    No, it isn't. It is an objective observation.

    A long serving totalitarian regime, known for suppression of dissent, would invariably condition generations of its populace to avoid confronting the status quo.

    That is why Tiananmen Square was so impressive. And a massacre.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

  8. Capitalism's amorality by fnj · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Does Apple's News app in china display a message "the shitty masters you put up with won't let you see real news, BITCHES"? I thought not. Apple is one among many actively propping up that hide bound gerontocracy.

    "The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them." -Lenin. They will also gleefully cooperate with evil bastards.

  9. Slogan by Forthan+Red · · Score: 2

    It just goes along with Apple's corporate slogan: "Evil? We're Okay With That."