[bilekas]

Wow.. Okay so it's official now that the playbook is "we will try to prevent anyone who we don't like to use advanced tech".

I understand if its military hardware and software, that's the property of the US government however this is the property of a private company.. Now seemingly being commandeered and issued at the will of the government, sounds very Russian/Chinese to me.

Is there a precedent for this before in a democratic country ?

[15155]

The overwhelming majority of export-controlled items are made by private corporations: the US government itself makes exceedingly little in comparison.

The missiles Raytheon makes are export-controlled too, and they're not somehow "property of the US government" - this isn't China.

Is this just upsetting because it's a product you want to enjoy?

> Is there a precedent for this before in a democratic country ?

Try every weapons system, encrypted radio system, FPGAs with high-bandwidth transceivers, lithography equipment, etc. etc. etc. There's plenty of precedent.

[bilekas]

> Is this just upsetting because it's a product you want to enjoy?

No, infact I'm a proponent of open models and being able to run them locally, it just feels strange that a consumer product would be under the same restrictions as military grade equipment and tech which is specifically designed for warfare.

> Try every weapons system, encrypted radio system, FPGAs with high-bandwidth transceivers, lithography equipment, etc. etc. etc. There's plenty of precedent.

If it's the same equivalent then my issue is just that, it feels like trying to restrict the useage of RSA because it could be used by bad actors.

[15155]

> If it's the same equivalent then my issue is just that, it feels like trying to restrict the useage of RSA because it could be used by bad actors.

RSA was practically impossible to control (an implementation is what, 100 lines in any language?) and the global benefits outweighed the cost and futility associated with restrictions.

AI laboratories with hundreds of billions of dollars in funding aren't cropping up in every country in the world, and their products and services are easily controlled and not easily replicated.

[PunchyHamster]

That was always the playbook

> Is there a precedent for this before in a democratic country ?

I'd argue US is not very democratic country given how many of what govt does goes against people's wishes. Same as UK

[bilekas]

> I'd argue US is not very democratic country given how many of what govt does goes against people's wishes. Same as UK

That could be argued but the core principle is freedom of commerce and private companies get a lot of runway. This seems completely counter to tha.

[15155]

"Freedom of commerce" doesn't mean "unchecked globalism" - there are plenty of dual-use items that only friendly countries or citizens can obtain (and within those categories, there aren't any further restrictions besides "don't share.")

[testfrequency]

The UK is a lot more compassionate about people’s wishes, it’s not nearly as bureaucratic and polarizing “democracy” as the US. Laws in the UK are passed quickly, and feedback is always considered. Whether you agree or not on the regulation is another discussion.

[15155]

> Laws in the UK are passed quickly

Is that a feature or a bug?

[testfrequency]

Depends on how pessimistic you are I suppose.

[vixen99]

Probably you're right overall but that doesn't apply to anyone who chooses to want to educate their kids in a non-taxpayer funded State school. Around 100–105 independent schools were reported as having ceased operations after the UK government introduced 20% VAT on private school fees from January 2025. Some may feel (I would not dare suggest it) that the current government is on a mission to close them all up unless they attract sufficiently rich parents like Eton. Closing the latter would be news indeed. However - exit Exeter Cathedral School after 847 years, which taught Charles II's composer and Coldplay's Chris Martin. It's closing with financial difficulties which have beset the sector in general since charges were introduced.

[jemmyw]

> since charges were introduced

That's one way to look at it I suppose. The other is that these institutions had a tax break for a long time, not having to charge VAT like every other business. So I think quite a few people see it as a little unfair that the schools for rich kids get a tax break: and it is wealthier families that use private schools for the most part. It's not like these schools didn't know this rule change was coming.

I don't live in the UK these days, but one of the problems with the place is how complex the tax system is. All these little carve outs, sudden % cliffs, rebates and what have you. My first job was writing payroll software in the UK. You think that's the norm, then you move somewhere else and realize how much easier it is in many other countries. Then you get calls from people like "don't charge VAT on vegetables like in the UK": people don't understand the cost imposed administrating an ever more complex tax system.

[johneth]

It is extremely difficult for me to care about the fate of private schools. In my opinion, they shouldn't exist. If the rich are forced to send their children to the same schools as everyone else, maybe they'll pressure the government to improve said schools.

[sscaryterry]

Not really. The UK is run (mostly) by career politicians, they really do not care.