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Russia has banned VPNs capable of circumventing website blocking, and will require users of chat apps to have a phone number associated with their accounts:
Vladimir Putin has banned virtual private networks (VPNs) and Tor in a crackdown on apps that allow access to websites prohibited in Russia. The law, signed by Mr Putin, was passed by Russia's parliament last week and will now come into force on 1 November. A second law to ban anonymous use of online messaging services will take effect on 1 January next year.
It would make it easier for the state to snoop on citizens' browsing habits, one internet security expert suggested.
The laws signed by Mr Putin are meant only to block access to "unlawful content" and not target law-abiding web users, the head of the lower house of parliament said, according to the RIA news agency.
One feature of the second law is the provision to require internet operators to restrict users' access if they are found to be distributing illegal content.
Also at Engadget, ZDNet, RT, TechCrunch, and CNET.
Related: Apple Capitulates, Removes Unlicensed VPN Apps From China App Store
(Score: 4, Insightful) by DannyB on Monday July 31 2017, @09:50PM (3 children)
Apple put up a very public fight with Comey last year to protect its users' privacy. Apple won't bow down to the US government. So don't expect Apple to bow down to any foreign government like Russia when it comes to compromising users' privacy.
(*cough* China *cough*)
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Monday July 31 2017, @10:05PM
Yup: as long as a dollar could be lost Apple will fold.
(and you should take care of that cough!)
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 4, Informative) by LoRdTAW on Monday July 31 2017, @10:09PM (1 child)
It's all about money. People in the USA were reeling from the NSA revelations and all the privacy issues which followed. Apple taking a stand for users privacy wasn't about fighting for the little guy. No, it was to give the little guy the impression that Apple cares thereby creating demand for their product. The situation in China perfectly illustrates this. If they really cared they would pull out of the Chinese market in protest and show the world they got guts. But they didn't because there is a fuck load of money to be made.
In fact, I'll even go as far to say I bet Apple unlocked that phone for the FBI in secret and the rest was a nice little marketing show.
(Score: 2) by Bobs on Tuesday August 01 2017, @04:27PM
It more complicated than that: effectively every I-thing is made in China.
If China suddenly slaps on a tariff, or, worse yet, has a sudden problem with the export paperwork so nothing can cross the border of the country, Apple's business is toast.
Apple is like a man with a taut noose around his neck, standing on a plank over a large drop.
Just a little twitch from China and Apple is in massive pain.
'Nice little business you got here, be a shame if something happened to it.'