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Apple removes VPN apps from the App Store in China
Tech Crunch (also reuters and nyt) ^ | 7/29/2017 | Jon Russell (@jonrussell)

Posted on 07/29/2017 9:50:47 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie

The Chinese government’s crackdown on the internet continues with the news that Apple has removed all major VPN apps, which help internet users overcome the country’s censorship system, from the App Store in China.

The move was first noted by ExpressVPN, a provider based outside of China, which said in a blog post “all major VPN apps” including its own had been purged from Apple’s China-based store. The company shared a note from Apple (below) explaining that its app was removed because “it includes content that is illegal in China.”

(Excerpt) Read more at techcrunch.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: apple
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All the Apple Fanbois should be proud supporting Apple.
1 posted on 07/29/2017 9:50:48 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Will the USA be next?


2 posted on 07/29/2017 9:51:16 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

I doubt it, at least under a Trump regime.


3 posted on 07/29/2017 9:54:24 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Apple should be ashamed to assist a customer’s government with that customer’s repression.


4 posted on 07/29/2017 10:03:24 AM PDT by onedoug ( KEK)
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To: Swordmaker

*sigh*


5 posted on 07/29/2017 10:14:03 AM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Its easy to be a social justice warrior when profits, your health, or your freedom are not at stake.

When they ARE at stake, we quickly learn who the hypocrites area


6 posted on 07/29/2017 10:19:55 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: onedoug; ImJustAnotherOkie

If I were a repressed citizen of China, the last encryption app I’d use would be a commercial one. There are alternatives that don’t involve Apple or any other commercial enterprise. The simple act of downloading a commercial app would make me uneasy.

Removing commercial VPN apps from a public store is mostly a who-cares, as far as I can tell. It’s unfortunate, but it’s not going to stop anybody in China who really wants to use encryption.


7 posted on 07/29/2017 10:22:16 AM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Not clear from the article whether those already having the apps on their phones and iPads can still use them in China. Also, if the apps are still available in US App Store, could one get it here and take it to China?


8 posted on 07/29/2017 10:25:56 AM PDT by Nevadan
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
> All the Apple Fanbois should be proud supporting Apple.

"Good, gooooood, let the hate flow through you...."

What a sad life you must lead, to find such pleasure in reveling in others' misfortunes.

Have a great day.

9 posted on 07/29/2017 10:27:11 AM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: Nevadan
> Not clear from the article whether those already having the apps on their phones and iPads can still use them in China. Also, if the apps are still available in US App Store, could one get it here and take it to China?

I would think the Chinese internet would long since have the ability to sniff out encrypted and tunneled packets. Whether the user has the app or not, their data still has to travel over a network rife with snooping.

I would also think that TOR or equivalent networks might be the only thing possible. But of course, those are similarly illegal in China, so whether you get the app elsewhere or inside, it's still going to get you in trouble.

The Chicoms aren't noted for their tolerance of illegal activities.

10 posted on 07/29/2017 10:31:54 AM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

Fanbois are not just financing Apple, they sing it’s praises. Truth hurts.


11 posted on 07/29/2017 10:35:16 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

In 1999 I bought my first personal computer. It was a Mac. I liked it so I bought 25 shares of Apple stock. Over the next five years I bought another $10,000 worth of shares for a total expenditure of about $13,000. There have been several stock splits along the way that have increased my number of shares owned but I am still a small investor. I have never sold any shares through the ups and downs of the market. Yesterday my $13,000 investment was worth $360,000 and all my purchases of Apple products are paid for by my quarterly dividend checks. The gross return on my investment is 2,219%.
So yeah, I’m an “Apple fanboy.”


12 posted on 07/29/2017 11:12:48 AM PDT by Nero Germanicus
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Any company selling goods or services in China will have to do so under China’s rules.


13 posted on 07/29/2017 11:19:00 AM PDT by coon2000 (Give me Liberty or give me death)
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To: Nero Germanicus

I’m happy for you. Maybe a donation to the Clinton Foundation is in your future.


14 posted on 07/29/2017 11:20:03 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

“Maybe a donation to the Clinton Foundation is in your future.”

Why, are you going to buy something from Bill Gates?


15 posted on 07/29/2017 11:37:23 AM PDT by proust (Trump / Pence 2016!)
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To: proust

Already did but I I’ll never sing his praises.


16 posted on 07/29/2017 11:50:06 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: dayglored

These guys run a couple of pretty interesting vlog channels on Youtube from China, and they have a good explanation of what’s going on and how it affects them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuEdYvQmVFg


17 posted on 07/29/2017 2:33:40 PM PDT by RightFighter (This space for rent)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
> Fanbois are not just financing Apple, they sing it’s praises. Truth hurts.

Not all Apple customers are in favor of their corporate politics, or decisions. But the products are good enough for those customers that they buy them, and like them, and maybe buy more.

You have such a twisted view, you think that anyone who likes Apple's products must support their corporate views. Well, you're dead wrong.

So then I must ask... what computer hardware and software do YOU use, that comes from a company so Pure and Politically Righteous?

Do tell. We're waiting to know which companies you finance with your purchases.

And BTW, it's "its praises", not "it's praises". Go ahead, blame the autocorrect in your politically righteous software.

So whose corporate adventures, donations, and activities do YOU finance?

18 posted on 07/29/2017 2:54:38 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: coon2000
> Any company selling goods or services in China will have to do so under China’s rules

Exactly.

And anybody who's been around since the early 90's should remember that public strong encryption was ILLEGAL IN AMERICA, just like it is now in China. The US Government considered it a "munition", so making it public, and thus "exportable", was a crime.

Doubt it? See Phil Zimmermann and PGP. The US Government tried to put him in jail for years for making good encryption software available to the public.

People criticizing Apple and other companies for doing business in China according to the Chinese laws have short memories, and should look at what American laws were like only 25-30 years ago here.

19 posted on 07/29/2017 3:07:43 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

I thought you couldn’t side load apps on new iDevices. Do you have an alternative if what you want isn’t in the app store?


20 posted on 07/29/2017 3:36:39 PM PDT by dangerdoc (disgruntled)
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