Comment on Israel’s IDF Bans Android Phones—iPhones Now ‘Mandatory’

• cypherpunks@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Physically obtaining the devices is insufficient; they need ongoing software updates and other network services too.

  The IDF could/would absolutely not be doing this if they did not trust that Apple is a very committed partner.

  You can also observe from Apple’s job listings that they are.

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  • tyler@programming.dev ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Go ahead and post the same link for Google job listings. I’ll wait.

    Having jobs in the country has nothing to do with being a “committed partner”. You’re making up connections that are most likely not there. Same for anyone claiming the same about Google. Microsoft on the other hand is directly selling and assisting the IDF, they are a committed partner.

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    • cypherpunks@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      I think you misunderstood me

      > Go ahead and post the same link for Google job listings. I’ll wait. My comment was in response to your comments (bolded below) in this thread: >>>> I was already thinking of getting a Linux phone next, this is helping to seal the deal. Fuck Apple the genocide enablers. >>> >>> please do explain how Apple is doing anything here. If Israel wants to provide their military with iPhones they’re going to no matter what Apple does. >> >> They don’t have to do business with/in Israel. > > That still will not stop a nation state (especially Israel) from getting their hands on Apple devices. My point was not to say that Google is better than Apple here - in fact, unlike Apple (as far as I know), Google has actually built AI tools specifically tailored for Israel’s genocidal business requirements. My point is that if Apple wanted to boycott a country (which in the case of Israel they obviously don’t, which job listings at their R&D centers are just one of many points of evidence of) it would actually make it difficult-to-impossible for any substantial part of the boycotted country’s government to rely on using iPhones. (Unlike Android derivatives which can easily be used without direct reliance on Google’s services…) As an aside, while I would not use iOS for philosophical reasons, it is hard to dispute that (for most adversaries, at least) compromising it is generally much more expensive/difficult/unlikely than Android. So, given that Apple is friendly to them, the IDF’s policy decision to use iPhones makes sense.

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      • tyler@programming.dev ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        Seeing as how pulling out of a country is incredibly difficult, I would not in any way say that that is cooperating with Israel. And Israel has the number one teams that crack iPhone security so I’m fairly confident that even if Apple locked down their phones from Israel, they would still manage to use them. Of course it would be better if Apple even tried to do what you suggest, but in actuality it’s a logistical and most likely futile effort.

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