Another example of how democracy operates in Mother Russia. It ain't be good. Apple, Google raise new concerns by yanking Russian app BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Big Tech companies that operate around the globe have long promised to obey local laws and to protect civil rights while doing business. But when Apple and Google capitulated to Russian demands and removed a political-opposition app from their local app stores, it raised worries that two of the world’s most successful companies are more comfortable bowing to undemocratic edicts — and maintaining a steady flow of profits — than upholding the rights of their users. The app in question, called Smart Voting, was a tool for organizing opposition to Russia President Vladimir Putin ahead of elections held over the weekend. The ban levied last week by a pair of the world’s richest and most powerful companies galled supporters of free elections and free expression. ... According to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, Google faced legal demands by Russian regulators and threats of criminal prosecution of individual employees if it failed to comply. The same person said Russian police visited Google’s Moscow offices last week to enforce a court order to block the app. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. ... Apple, Google raise new concerns by yanking Russian app (apnews.com) It's pretty bad when the ruling party enacts laws that criminalize expression and sharing of information. Putin is such a great leader that he can't allow anyone to replace him, no matter what it takes.
That's ironic. My Russian friends are still laughing their asses off at the mail-in ballot scam that got Potato Brain elected. Quote "Even we don't allow that kind of cheating here".
Sure they do....a lot less than here. Other countries have laws....US law is not 'World Law'. The US needs to quit trying to be world dictator of our laws. And I would point out that this OP is bitching about censorship....an article penned in BERKELEY....damn near censorship central of right wing speech. So it's quite ironic. The lead censors are complaining about alleged censorship. You can't make this **** up. And no matter how much fake news you wish to believe, Russia has several parties....as opposed to basically a 2 party system. Try 15 or so. And the most popular one by FAR is conservative...which just happens to be the one Putin is in. Half of the country votes Russia United, about 20% votes for the new Commie democrat party and the rest is spread out amongst the other dozen or so, one of which the party of the guy propped up by the State Dept gets about 1%.
To be fair to the Russians I kinda wish they did all of their election rigging with app bans. It's a lot more cosmopolitan and European than nerve gas.
they owe their loyalty to the stockholder by law, that is the problem not their employees, not their customers, not their country, not the people we would not have phones where we can not replace the battery otherwise, all about the bottom line
I wonder how many folks read this and think 'boy, Russia is bad' and then keep using Google and Apple...
