[elevatedastalt]

I feel Apple is one of the few companies that has the market power to say, Fuck you, we will just not sell or offer any services in your market, and I suspect that would be enough for voters to knock some sense into their government.

[switch007]

What makes you think they'll do that? Any previous examples? China maybe?

[GeekyBear]

It is what Apple publicly said they would do if the UK attempted this.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-66256081

[switch007]

Well that's just negotiation and PR. That's why I asked about previous examples - judge them by what they do, not say

Guess we'll have to see what happens in a few months

[GeekyBear]

It' s also what they testified they would do.

>Apple previously made its stance public when it formally opposed the UK government's power to issue Technical Capability Notices in testimony submitted in March 2024 and warned that it would withdraw security features from the UK market if forced to comply.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/uk-demands-apple...

[endgame]

> Technical Capability Notices

> The 2016 law [Investigatory Powers Act] is nicknamed the Snoopers' Charter and forbids unauthorized disclosure of the existence or contents of a warrant issued under the act.

> "Apple can appeal the UK capability notice to a secret technical panel, which would consider arguments about the expense of the requirement, and to a judge who would weigh whether the request was in proportion to the government's needs. But the law does not permit Apple to delay complying during an appeal," the Post wrote.

Sounds like the godawful "assistance and access" laws that were rushed through in Australia a couple of years ago, right down to the name of the secret instrument sent to the entity who gets to build the intercept capability.

[cherioo]

Apple may withdraw security feature, which is unclear what that achieves at all. Apple will not withdraw all sales in a country for privacy of that country’s citizens, as evidenced in China.

UK demanding to see private information for citizens in other countries though..

[drawkward]

Of course companies always do what they say they will!

[bagels]

They probably won't, but it'd probably work

[alt227]

Please please please let them do that. I would love to see a UK without Apple devices!

[aqueueaqueue]

What is better for shareholder value? The privacy brand or the UK market.

[anticensor]

Doesn't matter, cannot be done by the board alone, explicit shareholder approval required for shutdown.