@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
The UK seems like a free nation. It’s not. It is run by a tyrant, Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer . Shame on him for his totalitarian demand. And bravo to Apple CEO @tim_cook for defying the government. Please share this to warn the world that UK is no longer safe for free people!
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
“Apple previously called a bill from the UK Parliament that sought access to user data ‘unprecedented overreach by the government.’ At the time, the company said that ‘the UK could attempt to secretly veto new user protections globally preventing us from ever offering them to customers.’”
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
“Customers already using Advanced Data Protection, or ADP, will need to manually disable it during an unspecified grace period to keep their iCloud accounts.
“The company said it will issue additional guidance in the future to affected users and that it does not have the ability to automatically disable it on their behalf.
“The move to pull its encryption feature — rather than complying and building a backdoor — is a clear rebuke of the government’s order.”
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
Thank you @tim_cook for standing strong against tyranny! 🇺🇸🇬🇧✊🏼
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
Look what the UK creeps demanded:
“As part of its order to Apple, the UK asked it for access to global user data, Bloomberg News reported. The mandate orders Apple to provide access under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act, a law that granted officials the authority to compel companies to remove encryption under what’s known as a “technical capability notice.” The law also makes it illegal for companies to reveal when the government has made such an order.”
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
@tim_cook Here’s the context for this. The UK government is one of the most totalitarian in the world!
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
It’s true that Apple could have just quit the UK rather than accede to the governments demands, and in that sense it caved in. But it’s hard to see a publicly traded company responsible to shareholders doing that and so it appears to have chosen the best of two bad options. I may be wrong and if so I’m happy to be convinced otherwise.
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
I amend my above post to say that I wish Apple's CEO @tim_cook had stood firm and mobilized the world against UK's totalitarian demands. At the same time, Apple appears to have done more than other companies to resist the government's demands. And, ultimately, UK voters must demand their right to privacy; none of us can depend on the fortitude of CEOs to do the right thing.
@shellenberger - Michael Shellenberger
As powerful as Big Tech is, nation-states are more powerful. Elections matter, so it's important to build a pro-privacy and pro-free speech movement.
