There’s a new form of digital censorship sweeping the globe, and it could be the start of something devastating.
In the last few weeks, the Chinese government compelled Apple to remove New York Times apps from the Chinese version of the App Store. Then the Russian government had Apple and Google pull the app for LinkedIn, the professional social network, after the network declined to relocate its data on Russian citizens to servers in that country. Finally, last week, a Chinese regulator asked app stores operating in the countryto register with the government, an apparent precursor to wider restrictions on app marketplaces.
These moves may sound incremental, and perhaps not immediately alarming. China has been restricting the web forever, and Russia is no bastion of free speech. So what’s so dangerous about blocking apps?
Here’s the thing: It’s a more effective form of censorship.
It’s almost like an operating system where you can’t install applications not approved by its manufacturer is a really, really dumb idea.
From the earliest days of devices requiring manufacturer approval for creating some form of cartridge till today’s app stores and into the future, I hate to ask for approval to innovate. If there’s anything to learn from the open web it should be that openness fosters innovation and closed systems put a cap on it.
What about…
…software patents ?
At least, someone like LinkedIn can put the package for download on their website and people willing to run it may, if they use Android, just install and use the app. For iOS… bad luck.
Edited 2017-01-19 06:52 UTC
As i have said before; “smart phones for stupid people, and stupid phones for the elite”
edit:Hillary did not get the memo
Edited 2017-01-19 08:59 UTC