Everyone in the tech industry facepalms almost every time legislators try to pontificate on technology, but the British government appears to be trying to set a new record. After putting iMessage and FaceTime at risk, the government is now suggesting that it might ban some Apple security updates.

  • amzd@kbin.social
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    2 years ago

    Ok so Apple would have to disclose the vulnerability to follow proposed EU rules then can’t implement the fix in UK? That seems like a disaster waiting to happen

  • KelsonV@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I was expecting this to be a half-baked plan to block something using a less-than-half-baked definition that would also cover security updates.

    The fact that someone actually thinks explicitly blocking security updates is a good idea is just appalling.

  • graphite@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    Under the latest plans, tech companies would need to notify the British government before rolling out a security fix but might be refused permission if it blocks a vulnerability that’s being exploited by security services…

    I suppose these days it’s cheaper to find some half baked vulnerability and pray it lasts a while instead of just adding back doors in the devices

    • ikidd@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve heard from a government that seems to take pride in how stupid and authoritarian their legislation can get. They’re giving the US a run for it’s money.

      • graphite@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        It’s beginning to feel all bad at this point, yeah, I agree.

        They’ll save a lot of money, but (a) the cost isn’t worth it and (b) it’s just totally assenine logic that takes a dump on the idea of a government’s existence having any sense of meaning that goes beyond serving the interests of the wealthy.

  • lustrum@sh.itjust.works
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    2 years ago

    This might have worked a decade ago. Companies are EXTREMELY hot on device patches now. I work for a big company and we have a week to install the latest iOS patches on our phone. We get regular updates when software is out. If windows gets a certain patch behind the system can’t update, it requires a full flash.

    The same with banning encryption, the average Joe might not care but big companies have a lot to protect in IP and legally. Imagine a US company wanting send IP to a UK company for design/validation/manufacturing. They just won’t because our devices/networks will be vulnerable to IP being stolen

  • BigVault@kbin.social
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    2 years ago

    Hospital emergency rooms across the UK are likely to be declaring a major incident to deal with the rash of injuries caused by the force of facepalming and banging heads against desks throughout the tech sector.

    The NHS is struggling enough as it is.

  • BilboBargains@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    Welcome to the world of British politics. When their advisor on drugs, the scientist prof David Nutt, pointed out that riding a horse is statistically known to be more dangerous than MDMA he was summarily dismissed from his post. These people don’t want inconvenient facts to spoil their Victorian era conception of reality. So it will go with their absurd and pernicious spying charter.