Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has branded a new proposed law banning encrypted communications in the U.K. as “stupid,” and says that if it is passed, Apple should stop selling iPhones in the country out of principle.
“I would like to see Apple refuse to sell iPhone in UK if government bans end-to-end encryption,” Wales posted on Twitter. “Does Parliament dare be that stupid?”
I would like to see Apple refuse to sell iPhone in UK if gov’t bans end-to-end encryption. Does Parliament dare be that stupid?
— Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) November 3, 2015
Having lived in London in recent years, Wales has an extra-keen interest in stopping government snooping. His outrage concerns a new proposed law, due to be published in draft form later today, mandating that tech companies must hand over communications data if requested.
Apple has made a point of noting that strong encryption means it can’t do so with iMessages even if it wanted to — something which has already drawn the ire of authorities in the U.S.
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said earlier this year that there should be no “means of communication” that “we cannot read” by those in charge.
Pushing privacy has been a big theme of Tim Cook’s tenure at Apple. Recently Apple updated its website with new details about about its privacy policy and how it uses customer data, while the company has also been awarded top marks in the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF) “Who Has Your Back” report — with the conclusion that, “We commend Apple for its strong stance regarding user rights, transparency, and privacy.”
While the chances of Apple stopping selling iPhones in the U.K. is slim-to-none, I definitely applaud Wales’ point — and I’d be very, very surprised if he’s the last public figure to make it.
Via: Independent
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
10 responses to “Wikipedia’s founder thinks Apple should stop selling iPhones in the U.K.”
“Wales has an extra-keen interest in stopping government snooping”
At first glance, I interpreted this to mean that the Welsh are very independent.
Apple are just acting as a fall-guy at the moment. Of course they are hand-in-hand with governments and those who control them. They will just put on the brave “save the people’s rights” face so that ‘the people’ feel that someone was supporting them but, at the end of the day those who run the governments will win and encryption will be handed over to them. Just like Arthur Skargill pretended to support the miners, etc.
Which are more evil ? Those Governments who are “honest” and upfront or those who hack/crack/steal/snoop/bomb/toture without telling.
Which are more evil ? Those Governments who are “honest” and upfront or those who hack/crack/steal/snoop/bomb/toture without telling.
Jimmy Wales should also tell suitcase manufactures to stop selling in countries where airports search you luggage when you pass security at an airport.
The more accurate analogy would be a suitcase manufacturer who has a lock on the suitcase, builds their business on being the most secure suitcase ever made, and then gives a duplicate key to the police, so that the police can stop you on the sidewalk to check your suitcase, just to make sure you aren’t doing anything criminal.
You don’t want airport security to see something:
1. Don’t bring it with you when flying.
2. Drive.
You don’t want the government to see something on your computer:
1. Don’t keep it on computer.
2. …?
There’s a fundamental difference that makes an airport security analogy not work.
2. Typewriter.
That would be the same as not keeping it on computer.
Driving is the same a flying either.
You’re right. Driving is not the same as flying. Flying is in the air. Driving is on the ground.
If you are not typing anything wrong in your smart phone, you have nothing to worry about. Just hope you are aware of what is considered right and wrong by those who spy on you.