Sanctions against Russia

[Copper]

Will Apple hire an Army when Putin starts shelling in Cupertino?

[jon-nyc]

@Copper said in Sanctions?:

Will Apple hire an Army when Putin starts shelling in Cupertino?

With $200B cash on hand, God knows they could.

[Klaus]

I wonder if Apple could remotely brick all Russian iPhones.

[Renauda]

@Klaus

Interesting thought.

[George K]

@Klaus said in Sanctions?:

I wonder if Apple could remotely brick all Russian iPhones.

Wouldn't surprise me.

But it's a cost/benefit type of thing. It would piss off a lot of people, but, on a practical level, what effect would it have?

Just wondering.

[Klaus]

@George-K said in Sanctions?:

@Klaus said in Sanctions?:

I wonder if Apple could remotely brick all Russian iPhones.

Wouldn't surprise me.

But it's a cost/benefit type of thing. It would piss off a lot of people, but, on a practical level, what effect would it have?

Just wondering.

It would be a stupid move, because many people everywhere wouldn't buy iPhones anymore if they knew that Apple can do that.

[George K]

@Klaus said in Sanctions?:

It would be a stupid move, because many people everywhere wouldn't buy iPhones anymore if they knew that Apple can do that.

I agree...

"I want a phone that no one can turn off."

Because phone.

[Axtremus]

@Klaus said in Sanctions?:

It would be a stupid move, because many people everywhere wouldn't buy iPhones anymore if they knew that Apple can do that.

See https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210515 , skim through the “Mark your device as lost or turn on Lost Mode for your item” section and the “Erase a device” section. They get very close to suggesting that Apple has the capability to brick your phone.

[George K]

@Axtremus said in Sanctions?:

They get very close to suggesting that Apple has the capability to brick your phone.

Yes. If the (cough) owner can erase it...

[Axtremus]

@George-K said in Sanctions?:

Is Russia being 'cancelled'?

“… demonstrating how the market can punish even powerful states for dangerous and unjustified behavior.”

Russia may be militarily powerful but Russia is economically weak. “The market” can punish economically weak states just fine. Whether “the market” can punish the economically strong states is not yet demonstrated.

For any punishment dished out by the “the market” on Russia this go around, imagine the same being contemplated to, say, China, and ask yourself whether it will be effective. (E.g., Apple removing apps or essential functionalities from China? Only if Apple thinks it can survive without manufacturing its iPhones and iPads and Macs in China.)

[LuFins Dad]

I’m more than a little leery about Private Businesses choosing to sanction a foreign nation on their own. Freezing bank accounts, suspending credit accounts, with no recourse?

I get that this is seemingly a cut and dried case of Russian government being evil, but I’m not sure that these businesses should have the right to be judge jury and executioner. It will be too easy for them to do it again now that they see that they can AND it’s effective, but maybe the next case isn’t as cut and dried…

[George K]

@LuFins-Dad said in Sanctions?:

I get that this is seemingly a cut and dried case of Russian government being evil, but I’m not sure that these businesses should have the right to be judge jury and executioner. It will be too easy for them to do it again now that they see that they can AND it’s effective, but maybe the next case isn’t as cut and dried…

They should build their own banking and manufacturing infrastructure, right?

Because shut up and bake the cake.

[Doctor Phibes]

@LuFins-Dad said in Sanctions?:

I’m more than a little leery about Private Businesses choosing to sanction a foreign nation on their own. Freezing bank accounts, suspending credit accounts, with no recourse?

I get that this is seemingly a cut and dried case of Russian government being evil, but I’m not sure that these businesses should have the right to be judge jury and executioner. It will be too easy for them to do it again now that they see that they can AND it’s effective, but maybe the next case isn’t as cut and dried…

Governments have been deciding to do this for years, and I don't particularly trust them more than I trust, say, Apple.

[LuFins Dad]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Sanctions?:

@LuFins-Dad said in Sanctions?:

I’m more than a little leery about Private Businesses choosing to sanction a foreign nation on their own. Freezing bank accounts, suspending credit accounts, with no recourse?

I get that this is seemingly a cut and dried case of Russian government being evil, but I’m not sure that these businesses should have the right to be judge jury and executioner. It will be too easy for them to do it again now that they see that they can AND it’s effective, but maybe the next case isn’t as cut and dried…

Governments have been deciding to do this for years, and I don't particularly trust them more than I trust, say, Apple.

But there’s recourse against governments. None against businesses…

Speaking of which, the laws on American companies prevent them from discrimination based on nationality, no?

[Doctor Phibes]

@LuFins-Dad said in Sanctions?:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Sanctions?:

@LuFins-Dad said in Sanctions?:

I’m more than a little leery about Private Businesses choosing to sanction a foreign nation on their own. Freezing bank accounts, suspending credit accounts, with no recourse?

I get that this is seemingly a cut and dried case of Russian government being evil, but I’m not sure that these businesses should have the right to be judge jury and executioner. It will be too easy for them to do it again now that they see that they can AND it’s effective, but maybe the next case isn’t as cut and dried…

Governments have been deciding to do this for years, and I don't particularly trust them more than I trust, say, Apple.

But there’s recourse against governments. None against businesses…

That's not true at all. Shareholders have power, as do customers of the business in question. The people being directly affected typically don't have much say in the matter either way.

[George K]

Leading from Behind:

U.S. to Ban Russian Flights From American Airspace

Move follows similar prohibitions by European and Canadian authorities

The U.S. government will ban Russian aircraft from American airspace, broadening aviation restrictions as the West expands sanctions over the war in Ukraine, President Biden said Tuesday during his State of the Union address.

“Tonight I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights—further isolating Russia—and adding an additional squeeze on their economy,” Mr. Biden said.

Orders blocking Russian aircraft and airlines from entering U.S. airspace will be effective by the end of Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday evening.

The sweeping orders will mean any plane owned, certified, operated, registered, chartered, leased, or controlled by, for, or for the benefit of a person who is a citizen of Russia will be prohibited from flying over the U.S., the agencies said. The prohibition applies to scheduled and charter passenger and cargo flights.

[jon-nyc]

Great thread:

[Improviso]

@Improviso said in Sanctions?:

@Renauda said in Sanctions?:

@Jolly

People under 30 though are buying it hook, line and sinker.

Until their iPhones stop working.

Oh Noes... ApplePay stopped working. The poor little dears. What will they do?

[George K]

No surprise there.

Someone commented: "Surely the US would be unable to pay for them, and it’d be illegal for them to buy anyway… sounds performative"

[jon-nyc]

Elon Musk likes this.