Apple reneging on strong promises

Apple evidently thinks we’re as daft as their messaging has been, regarding their invasive privacy intrusion plans. No one, except a corporate or political mouthpiece could hand you a moldy piece of bread, proclaim its wonderfully delicious and expect us to believe it. Yet, that is exactly what Apple is attempting to do. Of course stamping out child pornography is a worthy goal, but invading my privacy and reneging on years of promises is not.

In 2016, Apple chose to hold firm against government’s demands and won praise from customers, security researchers, and privacy conscious consumers alike. Stating in an open letter, Tim Cook said in part:

Compromising the security of our personal information can ultimately put our personal safety at risk. That is why encryption has become so important to all of us.

For many years, we have used encryption to protect our customers’ personal data because we believe it’s the only way to keep their information safe. We have even put that data out of our own reach, because we believe the contents of your iPhone are none of our business.

– Tim Cook, Apple CEO (2016)

And yet, 5 years later Apple would have us believe that compromising personal information and placing themselves in contact with our personal data is the right thing to do? It is not.

But the real issue here isn’t about child pornography. Ask yourself if you believe governments around the world would not demand this technology be used for other purposes? Once the door is cracked I don’t believe that governments could resist such an opportunity. The EFF agrees (and here).

If freedom is the lifeblood of our society and culture. Privacy is it’s beating heart. Do not accept government, or corporate intrusion into our most private and encompassing places. Tell Apple, and those supporting this bad plan to stop this madness.

As for me, I’ve been an iPhone user since iPhone 4. My wife and I had plans to upgrade to iPhone 13 next year, and I had been planning to purchase my first MAC Book Air when the M2 models become available. But those plans are changed now. I won’t be upgrading hardware, and won’t be upgrading to iOS 15 when its released either. I’m forced to accept potential security vulnerabilities in order to avoid known privacy intrusion by a company I thought had my back.

So about that misinformation…

The so called “mainstream media”, and the Democrat party have been working overtime for the past year to eradicate any discussion regarding the source of the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic. Outright declaring any source other than natural to be racist misinformation, and using their buddies in big tech to censor contrary information.

While big tech has been working overtime to censor, inconvenient questions to the left and China just wouldn’t go away. Enough information had finally come to light within the last several months that not even the mainstream media could hold the line any further. The likelihood of lab leak was not only possible, many top scientists began to say it was most likely. The cynical might wonder why this information only came to light after President Trump left office.

Should it have taken a year for the mainstream media to finally acknowledge the evidence? Even if it was only circumstantial? The astute have know this all along, but for those just now catching up, the old adage of “where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire” rings true. It would be an understatement to say there’s been a massive cloud of smoke hanging over China since early 2020 regarding the source of the virus.

The first cases of Covid-19 were discovered in Wuhan, China and then spread across China, to other countries. And eventually across the world. The first cases may have actually been Wuhan Institute of Virology scientists. And now the lead for the WHO origin investigation has admitted that the March 2020 report was botched. China dictated the outcome of the report.

The head of the World Health Organization’s origin investigation into COVID-19 has admitted that China basically ordered his team on what to write in their report and allowed them to mention the lab leak theory, but only on the condition that they didn’t recommend following it up.

Contrary information isn’t misinformation simply because you don’t like it. For as year, the mainstream media, the American left, big tech, and ultimately China has stymied investigation in the true source of COVID-19 and allowed unfathomable economic damage to occur across the globe. It’s past time for the full truth to come to light, and for dire consequences to be meted out to those responsible.

Its also time for us to turn our eye on what has become of big tech. When one party is able to use it, in a collective manner to attack and shut down opposing political viewpoints, it’s time to do something about that.

Turns out the only misinformation has been what China, the Democrat party, and their allies in the mainstream media and big tech were peddling over the last year.

Re-launching

It might not look it, but this blog goes back to at least 2010. Maybe earlier, I didn’t actually look. There used to be plenty of content I’d penned over the years, though the last of that was posted at least 5 years ago when I all but abandoned the blog. I’ve considered picking the mantle back up from time to time, and since I’m here now I guess I’ve decided the time is right. And boy do I have a lot to say. Hot takes and longer form blog posts as well.

I wanted to start fresh. Throw on some new paint. Replace the drapes. You get the idea. So I’ve wiped everything and now this post is the new ‘first’. If you’re reading this, thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again!

In the meantime, regular post will resume shortly.