Rotten Apple

[FrodoSwaggins]

Apple is taking the unprecedented step of removing its highest level data security tool from customers in the UK, after the government demanded access to user data.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj54eq4vejo
This is very worrying news. Apple is known for being a pain in the ass for law enforcement to access. I don't trust them as a huge company and I don't tend to use their products, especially given the cost, but it's a very bad precedent.

Data with standard encryption is accessible by Apple and shareable with law enforcement, if they have a warrant.

The Home Office told the BBC: "We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices."

In a statement Apple said it was "gravely disappointed" that the security feature would no longer be available to British customers.

[gorzek]

The worse precedent would be cooperating in providing encryption backdoors. The reason you don't do this is that it fundamentally compromises the encryption. It sucks they have to make this choice but the alternative is to make everyone less safe, not just UK users.

[FrodoSwaggins]

I mean I don't think Apple should be doing this or providing encryption backdoors. I guess they didn't want to take it to the courts? Is the UK government in the business of spying on its citizens and curtailing their ability to secure their own data? Perhaps that should be a front page story the citizens need to hear about.

[Aloria]

I just decided I was done with iTunes today. Though I'll keep the program so I can load my iPod, since I use that to listen to music in my car.
I wish there were other MP3/4 devices available. Everyone expects you to stream from your phone or some shit, but I don't have unlimited data, and connection cuts out and it's just annoying. I want a dedicated device. At this rate, I'll go back to CDs. 
A while ago, apple deleted my iTunes account and I lost $200 worth of music because it was in the cloud. fuck crapple.

[gorzek]

I mean I don't think Apple should be doing this or providing encryption backdoors. I guess they didn't want to take it to the courts? Is the UK government in the business of spying on its citizens and curtailing their ability to secure their own data? Perhaps that should be a front page story the citizens need to hear about.

I don't think courts in the UK work the way they do in the US. This law was duly passed and Apple must comply with it, one way or another.
And yes, the UK is very much in the business of massively surveiling their citizens. They have the highest density of CCTV cameras on Earth, or close to it.