They build their stuff in China, if they want to keep their 35,000% markup they'll do whatever the ChiComs tell them to do plus they don't want any of their executives getting sbot.
Posted on 02/20/2016 3:58:47 PM PST by dennisw
Apple was hailed as a champion of digital privacy this week after refusing to help the FBI hack into an iPhone belonging to a suspect in the San Bernardino shooting. But the firm hasn't always been so scrupulous about user data, especially in China.
The standoff between the FBI and Apple over the investigation into the San Bernardino shooting, which claimed the lives of 14 people in early December, has divided the United States. While some have argued that the company should, in this particular case, help investigators by bypassing the phone's security system, others have insisted that doing so will set a dangerous precedent.
The controversy began on Tuesday after a judge ordered Apple to help the FBI "hack" an iPhone linked to the tragic shooting. The next day, the White House gave the investigation its full support, describing it as an "important national priority".
Despite being a vocal critic of President Barack Obama, presidential candidate Donald Trump agreed with him on the issue, slamming Apple's refusal to cooperate with law enforcement officials. "I agree 100 percent with the courts... Who do they think they are? No, we have to open it up," he told Fox News on Thursday.
Chinese 'security checks'
But others have backed Apple CEO Tim Cook's refusal to bow to the FBI, including Google boss Sundar Pichai, as well as the heads of WhatsApp (part of Facebook) and Microsoft. Almost overnight, Cook became a bulwark against government efforts to access users' personal information.
Apple's new role as a champion of digital privacy must be making the Chinese government smile. According to an article by the US news website Quartz, Cook's intransigence apparently depends on geography.
Apple takes a stand against FBI on digital privacy
Citing reports by Chinese daily Beijing News and the state-run People's Daily, the article claimed that Cook agreed in January 2015 to allow authorities in China to carry out "security checks" on all iPhones sold in the country to make sure the US had not installed any spyware. But, Apple has never confirmed or responded to the allegations.
The article reported that analysts believe Apple likely handed over its operating system source code as part of the agreement. If true, this would mean that the Chinese government knows how Apple's software works, including its security system.
User data stored in China
Apple also decided in February 2015 to store local users' personal data in China. The move was a gesture of good will towards Beijing that other companies like Google, for example, have always rejected for "security reasons". This is because it is easier for China to request access to personal information that is under its jurisdiction.
But Apple has never given Beijing the means to hack an iPhone, which is exactly what Cook has accused the United States of seeking in what he described as "an unprecedented step that threatens the security of our customers".
But Apple's alleged behaviour in China has demonstrated that the company may be capable of granting a government - even one known for Internet censorship - access to users' personal information if it's within the company's best commercial interests.
It’s all Kabuki theater to give Apple cover when they surrender.
When you are a totalitarian regime you can bend those Apple Boys to your will. They will be very compliant in order to sell more Apple fones and iPads in China. Apple is running scared of Xiaomi and other tough Chinese competition...so will pull out out all stops to sell their devices in China.
Apple only defies the US government when it comes to security matters. China it will bend over for
Absolutely.
Apple gives the communist party full access to everything.
They all do.
Jail Cook as accessory after the fact.
I have posted the plausible and highly likely collusion of Apple with Beijing for over a year now.
In the 4th quarter of 2014, AAPL reported a quarterly profit of 16 billion, its highest in history due mainly to sales of its iPhone 6.
$16B at a price point of $1000 per phone would mean in 90 days a city the size of Shanghai would have had to purchase an iPhone 6 for every man, woman and child.
Further, most every Chinese person cannot afford an iPhone 6 at $1000 unless there are government subsidies.
The 16B profit also came at a time when Cook was under fire for bring politics and homosexuality into his business boardroom. So he needed a large show, an incredible result to boost his hold on the company.
So it’s not difficult to surmise that Cook cut a deal with Beijing to give them the spying capability that they have always wanted.
I look at Apple’s iPhone success as one largely made by China and by a side deal with the Beijing government to hand over the keys to the backdoors of the devices.
Seems very unlikely, that's Apple's keys to its kingdom.
I laugh at all these morons who have such phones...I just had to look at my flip phnoe to see who made it....I pay 13 dollars a month for the thing to text(which I rarely use besides typing “K” or I’ll be right there) OH by the way I only pay 34.99 for this 30 mbps connection....no cable and I own my own modem.....get the muzzies out and close all mosques in America...Islam IS NOT a religion . Nothing but a subhuman theocracy....I will state what I have always said: fk Islam and anyone who supports it. .....all comments welcome.
But Apple has never given Beijing the means to hack an iPhone, which is exactly what Cook has accused the United States of seeking in what he described as “an unprecedented step that threatens the security of our customers”.
That sentence renders the entire story hogwash. BS.
China did not get the very thing the FBI wants.
As for giving China a copy of their operating system code....Apple is the most secretive of all similar companies.
BS story.
Forgot to say I get to use it as aphone ...the reason we have them....still 13 dollars a month for like 3000 minutes ...by the way Fk Islam......have a nice day!
Isn’t Apple essentially a Chinese company that exports it’s products to the United States.
meh
The county changed the password when they confiscated the phone. The idiot cannot remember what he changed it to. This is an effort to get into everyone’s phone
Close enough for government work! Yes its an LA county owned iphone and the county effed up Ifone access and icloud access on the dead terrorsists phone
They build their stuff in China, if they want to keep their 35,000% markup they'll do whatever the ChiComs tell them to do plus they don't want any of their executives getting sbot.
Glad domeone here can read and comprehend.
Checking for spyware just means that the Chinese were looking to see if the phones could be cracked, that would mean that the US could spy on them. The fact that they cannot be cracked, means just that. There cannot be any US govt spyware, if the phones cannot be cracked.
A corporation run by liberals has no allegiance to America. A trait identified with communists and muslims.
How long before we openly admit the left is not comprised of patriots?
Perhaps. But the Constitution is quite clear. Reasonable searches are allowed. This is a reasonable search. Apple is saying they are above the law, and don’t have to comply when they are the manufacturer of the device and are intentionally firewalling data on criminally confiscated devices.
What all phone manufacturers need is to provide a service where they receive the device and retrieve the data at their facilities. Then return the unlocked phone back to the government after the DOJ pays the restoration fee. Problem solved and everyone is happy.
It dawned on me that the security feud between Apple and FBI might be turning out differently if USA had a secure border.
No it isn’t a reasonable search because the thing being asked for allows the Feds to crack any phone.
You can’t have it both ways. All phones need to be searchable. That’s the law, and has been forever. Who has the keys and ability to unlock the phone is the question.
Considering Apple has the ability to unlock all phones, they are the current keymasters. Otherwise the keys will need to rest in the hands of the government. Which one do you want?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.