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New Legislation Would Ban US Government From Purchasing Apple Products (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the lobbying-for-blackberry dept.

HughPickens.com writes: Cyrus Farivar reports at ArsTechnica that Congressman David Jolly has introduced the "No Taxpayer Support for Apple Act," a bill that would forbid federal agencies from purchasing Apple products until the company cooperates with the federal court order to assist the unlocking of a seized iPhone 5C associated with the San Bernardino terrorist attack. "Taxpayers should not be subsidizing a company that refuses to cooperate in a terror investigation that left 14 Americans dead on American soil," said Jolly, who announced in 2015 that he's running for Senate, joining the crowded GOP primary field to replace Sen. Marco Rubio. "Following the horrific events of September 11, 2001, every citizen and every company was willing to do whatever it took to side with law enforcement and defeat terror. It's time Apple shows that same conviction to further protect our nation today." Jolly's bill echoes a call from Donald Trump last month to boycott Apple until it agrees to assist the FBI. Not to fear, GovTrack gives Jolly's bill a 1% chance of being enacted.

13 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. Even better reason by 110010001000 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I have an ever better reason the Government should be banned from buying Apple (or Microsoft): It ain't Open. You are "buying" a walled garden full of security holes and endless paid upgrades. The Government should only be purchasing truly Open systems.

    1. Re:Even better reason by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Android is more or less open.

      IMHO, for those that think along these lines, why not have the US government contract out the design and build of their own Smart Phone. That way, they can really tell everyone where to go. And with Android, they could probably do it fairly easily.

      FYI, I was half expecting the guy to be a (D), but noticed he was an (R). Which is why I I would never vote for anyone in either party.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:Even better reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Except that you're clearly unaware of what Apple has done for China or you wouldn't be making that claim. China has access to source code so they have an inside track on what security holes may exist. That is not what the U.S. government is asking for. Just because you can view the source code for Truecrypt doesn't mean that it is insecure.

    3. Re:Even better reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No, I think if the US Government mandated Open systems there would be a long line of manufactures filing lawsuits to get that mandate overturned.

    4. Re:Even better reason by scarboni888 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You know that resorting to the use of the word 'fuck' is a signal to your enemies that you've given up, right?

    5. Re:Even better reason by meglon · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I think you're fucking wrong.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
  2. As much as I hate the Ifone and what it stands for by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    I have to admit, this is totally lame..

    Why are we paying people to ponder such things??

    WTF

  3. Tantrums by s.petry · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I really wish people like this got booted out of office by the fed up constituency. How much tax payer money was just wasted on drafting this piece of worthless paper? I fully realize how fed up and cynical I have become.

    --

    -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    1. Re:Tantrums by Calydor · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Just yesterday I was playing FF14, doing a bit of crafting, and had just a 1% chance of my craft turning out to be high quality.

      And it happened.

      See, 1% is indeed a very small chance - but it is still a chance, and therein lies the problem.

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
  4. Catch 22 by DeadDecoy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ironically, if Apple does comply with the federal request, they should be banned on grounds that their hardware is no longer secure.

  5. I thought it had got as silly as it could, but... by MrKrillls · · Score: 3, Insightful
    First I read about seized iPhone may hold “dormant cyber pathogen” http://arstechnica.com/tech-po... , and now, this new idiot.

    The stupidity is strong here.

    --
    Don't step on the baby.
  6. Apple should just move by the_other_one · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Close all offices and manufacturing in the US and go. The US does not need all those jobs and taxes.

    --
    134340: I am not a number. I am a free planet!
  7. Re:what a knob by scarboni888 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "what more is there to say"

    "The terrorists who committed the crime are already dead so what the fuck is all this bullshit really about?"

    sorry, does a question count?