Apple, Champion of Censorship

[Renegade]

Sigh... These goons never cease to provide me with lots of material to rant about...

http://kewlaid.net/2010/12/22/apple-champion-of-censorship-yet-again/

Apple has come out as a champion of censorship and hero to fascists everywhere yet again as it pulls an independently produced Wikileaks application from its app store.

In a dazzling display of brilliant courage and fortitude, Apple stood up to rebel scum and free-thinkers everywhere, bravely pulling Igor Barinov’s “Wikileaks App” and thwarting villains and terrorists worldwide, letting you sleep easier at night knowing that the iPhone platform is yet again protected from the forces of darkness.

...

[Eóin]

I don't doubt Apple would pull a genuine Wikileaks app if one were present. But this app was just someone cheaply, and I would say dishonestly, cashing in on the hype.

"Wikileaks App" was a paid app ($1.99) which did nothing more than present the Wikileaks Twitter feed and website – both of which can of course still be seen by iDevice users with sufficient energy to activate their browser and/or Twitter platform of choice, RSS app etc.

[snip]

There is no indication that any of the money will go to Wikileaks, or to Bradley Manning – the junior US soldier who allegedly supplied the site with almost everything of interest it has ever published.

[Renegade]

I don't doubt Apple would pull a genuine Wikileaks app if one were present. But this app was just someone cheaply, and I would say dishonestly, cashing in on the hype.

"Wikileaks App" was a paid app ($1.99) which did nothing more than present the Wikileaks Twitter feed and website – both of which can of course still be seen by iDevice users with sufficient energy to activate their browser and/or Twitter platform of choice, RSS app etc.

[snip]

There is no indication that any of the money will go to Wikileaks, or to Bradley Manning – the junior US soldier who allegedly supplied the site with almost everything of interest it has ever published.

How is it any different from newspapers that use Wikileaks content for profit?

[Eóin]

It's not I suppose. Raw duplication of content, especially when you profit from it, is pretty dishonest, even if not illegal.

At least newspapers usually edit and utterly misrepresent or misquote the original source

[Renegade]

It's not I suppose. Raw duplication of content, especially when you profit from it, is pretty dishonest, even if not illegal.

At least newspapers usually edit and utterly misrepresent or misquote the original source

Hahahaha~!

The point of Wikileaks is information dissemination, and I think the Wikileaks app is perfectly in line with that objective.

[Eóin]

This is true, but if I were to write such an app, my conscience wouldn't let me charge for it.

Nonetheless, the Apple censorship- appaling as always

[zridling]

This is the among things -- censorship, proprietary through and through -- that drive me nuts about the coming wireless takeover. In the US, the Obama administration's FCC just handed over wireless internet to the corporations, who will do everything they can to make sure you never get what you want online. They'll censor the "tier" off the internet so that you're forced to use their search choices, their mapping choices, their software choices, their "data" plans, and so on. In other words, when you buy a tablet computer, you're really just buying a big damn phone contract where every minute costs you up the yinyang.

I'm blue in the face from saying it, but I don't want to rely on a corporation to tend my data or to decide where I go and what I see online. I shouldn't have to buy your hardware to get where I want to go (online).

[40hz]

^When dealing with those who, in their youth, constantly preached "doing the right thing" - or when speaking about politicians (of any age) - it's always the same old story.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

From the book More Fables in Slang by George Ade 1902

Quote
THE FABLE OF THE CORPORATION DIRECTOR AND THE MISLAID AMBITION

One of the Most Promising Boys in a Graded School had a Burning Ambition to be a Congressman. He loved Politics and Oratory. When there was a Rally in Town he would carry a Torch and listen to the Spellbinder with his Mouth open.

The Boy wanted to grow up and wear a Black String Tie and a Bill Cody Hat and walk stiff-legged, with his Vest unbuttoned at the Top, and be Distinguished.

On Friday Afternoons he would go to School with his Face scrubbed to a shiny pink and his Hair roached up on one side, and he would Recite the Speeches of Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster and make Gestures.

When he Graduated from the High School he delivered an Oration on "The Duty of the Hour," calling on all young Patriots to leap into the Arena and with the Shield of Virtue quench the rising Flood of Corruption. He said that the Curse of Our Times was the Greed for Wealth, and he pleaded for Unselfish Patriotism among those in High Places.

He boarded at Home for a while without seeing a chance to jump into the Arena, and finally his Father worked a Pull and got him a Job with a Steel Company. He proved to be a Handy Young Man, and the Manager sent Him out to make Contracts. He stopped roaching his Hair, and he didn't give the Arena of Politics any serious Consideration except when the Tariff on Steel was in Danger.

In a little while he owned a few Shares, and after that he became a Director. He joined several Clubs and began to enjoy his Food. He drank a Small Bottle with his Luncheon each Day, and he couldn't talk Business unless he held a Scotch High Ball in his Right Hand.

With the return of Prosperity and the Formation of the Trust and the Whoop in all Stocks he made so much Money that he was afraid to tell the Amount.

His Girth increased—he became puffy under the Eyes—you could see the little blue Veins on his Nose.

He kept his Name out of the Papers as much as possible, and he never gave Congress a Thought except when he talked to his Lawyer of the Probable Manner in which they would Evade any Legislation against Trusts. He took two Turkish Baths every week and wore Silk Underwear. When an Eminent Politician would come to his Office to shake him down he would send out Word by the Boy in Buttons that he had gone to Europe. That's what he thought of Politics.

One day while rummaging in a lower Drawer in his Library, looking for a Box of Poker Chips, he came upon a Roll of Manuscript and wondered what it was. He opened it and read how it was the Duty of all True Americans to hop into the Arena and struggle unselfishly for the General Good. It came to him in a Flash—this was his High School Oration!

Then suddenly he remembered that for several Years of his Life his consuming Ambition had been—to go to Congress!

With a demoniacal Shriek he threw himself at full length on a Leather Couch and began to Laugh.

He rolled off the Sofa and tossed about on a $1,200 Rug in a Paroxysm of Merriment.

His Man came running into the Library and saw the Master in Convulsions. The poor Trust Magnate was purple in the Face.

They sent for a Great Specialist, who said that his Dear Friend had ruptured one of the smaller Arteries, and also narrowly escaped Death by Apoplexy.

He advised Rest and Quiet and the avoidance of any Great Shock.

So they took the High School Oration and put it on the Ice, and the Magnate slowly recovered and returned to his nine-course Dinners.

MORAL:   Of all Sad Words of Tongue or Pen, the Saddest are these, "It Might Have Been."

[Renegade]

Turns out that the developer DID donate the vast majority to Wikileaks:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/12/developer-of-wikileaks-app-pulled-by-apple-donated-to-wikileaks/

Earlier this week Apple removed the unofficial WikiLeaks app from the App Store, which was charging $2.49 per download for information readily available online for free. The developer of the app has now claimed the app had 4443 download, which made $US5840.14. Of that amount, $US4443 has been donated to WikiLeaks.

[Eóin]

Well I'm embarrassed now that I jumped to assume the worst of him...