[blue_box]

So even US and EU can't deal with Authoritarian Governments and they are closing their eyes, you are expecting Apple to do that?

I wondering when we are going to start critize our governments before critizing the companies. You know, they are the ones that make law.

[cyrksoft]

And you are the one voting for them. A government isn’t an isolated entity, people vote for them in democratic countries.

However, it’s much easier for people to vote with their wallets in their everyday life (for ex. by buying from companies with certain environmental policies or labour policies) than to expect governments to change.

You can choose to buy a phone or computer that is less involved in this type of behaviours.

[Angostura]

What would you vote for? A complete, immediate cessation of economic activity involving mainland China?

[ryandrake]

Unfortunately, no electable party offers this choice, at least in the USA. Both major parties pay the bare minimum lip service to opposing authoritarian regimes, but neither of them actually do anything substantial.

EDIT: That said, it’s hard for a country to unilaterally effect change in another sovereign country without going to war. Hell, how many countries embargo North Korea and it has no effect?

[fsflover]

> it’s much easier for people to vote with their wallets in their everyday life

Except if you deal with a mono-/duopoly.

[tinus_hn]

What kind of phone would that be?

[can16358p]

While these phones exist, they are practically not much of a use for 99% of the population as many of the basic apps aren't available.

[threeseed]

US and EU are making up for lost time with sanctions imposed on Chinese companies and individuals.

Pretty much all they can do short of starting a war.

[tsimionescu]

The USA (possinly EU as well, I havent followed the news on this) are also actively supporting other extremely repressive regimes - most notably and uncontroversially, Saudi Arabia. They have even all but endorsed Saudi Arabia's murder of an American journalist on foreign soil (they have officially condemned it, but have taken 0 measures beyond a declaration).

[threeseed]

This is completely false.

US government imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi officials who were connected with the killing.

They couldn't punish Prince Mohammed bin Salman because he is expected to be King at some point soon which means any sanctions would be nonsensical. How does a travel ban for example work against the leader of any country let alone an (unfortunate) ally.

There simply isn't any good options for punishing world leaders.

[trasz]

Erm, no. A single JDAM would send much stronger signal. Of course it would bring repercussions, and that is the reason for purely symbolic actions taken instead: USA won’t do anything that could hamper their military influence in region.

[pseudalopex]

They banned Mugabe.[1]

[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1836935.stm

[EvilEy3]

What do you want them to do? Start a war?

[ISL]

Link fairly-prosecuting the perpetrators of Khashoggi's murder to the continuation of US military aid?

[simion314]

I have an issue with hypocrisy, like maybe you are a gay CEO or promote yourself as LGBT friend , respecting of women equality and at the same time kiss the ass to some governments that would stone you to death if they could get their hand on you.

When an individual is promoting itself as a green tree lover person on social media to score points and then you find he is a fake because money is more important, then IMO is fair to call on the hypocrisy/facade.

from the scandal where the whole world found that Apple tracks you each time you open an app I personally concluded that privacy is an after-thought at Apple. The entire thing would have been designed different if the developers at Apple were competent and at the same time care for privacy (so either they don't care about privacy or they are incompetent but care a lot)

[darkwater]

When the company we are talking about has the wealth and power of a nation, well, we have the right to criticize it. Also, we are able to criticize both governments and companies at the same time, with the same effort.

[EvilEy3]

What makes you think that wealth gives you power of a nation? Unless Apple starts making its own laws, hire or train its own army, it is just another cow for the government.

[meepmorp]

Apple has the power of a government? Like with sovereign territory, and army, and a seat in the UN?

[darkwater]

Nope, but it has lobby powers in many governments which is maybe even scarier since not everybody realizes that.

[meepmorp]

Oh, ok, so no actual government powers, just the ability to petition for policies that suit them, subject to competing interests having their say, with all decisions ultimately made by folks that don't work for Apple.

Just say you don't like them.

[darkwater]

Dismissing the power of money, influence over lawmakers etc... just say you like them, no? /s

[meepmorp]

I'm not dismissing that power, I'm saying that it's not at all the same as having the power of a government in a fundamental way.