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https://decrypt.co/11947/moscow-bans-sale-of-gadgets-without-russian-made-software
The potential to integrate mass surveillance into the common Internet infrastructure has analysts worried. A booming blackmarket for foreign smartphones seems likely.
A law requiring that foreign-made consumer-electronic devices must be pre-installed with Russian-made software was passed by Russia's lower house of parliament on Thursday. It covers smartphones, computers and smart televisions, and will go into effect in July, 2020.
The aim of the new legislation is to promote Russian technology, according to its proponents. But some fear that making Russian-made apps mandatory will provide a backdoor for surveillance. Critics also claim that this promotes technologically inferior software, and might cause international manufacturers to pull out of the Russian market.
[...] On Reddit, users expressed concerns about the quality of the Russian alternatives, in comparison to international brands such as Windows and Google.
"I'm sure you meant Gugal, comrade. You no use Gugal, you go to Gulag," quipped one Redditor.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 23 2019, @06:16PM (7 children)
"The potential to integrate mass surveillance into the common Internet infrastructure has analysts worried."
As apposed to how it is now in the west?
If "analysts" have something to say about the state of surveillance in Russia, perhaps they should compare it to the state of surveillance in the U.S. ? That comparison was made every single night on the news during the entire 1980's. They used to point it out and say: "Look how unfree people are over there! They are spied on every waking hour!" Dozens of movies were made about it.
As somebody who remembers the cold war, the current state of surveillance in the U.S. would have made the Stasi and the KGB envious in the extreme. And your going to tell me analysts are worried about the state of privacy... Over there? I think you are going to need to substantiate that.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday November 23 2019, @06:50PM (5 children)
Like the US mandating US-only electronics, amirite? I find it interesting how so many here strain to make this about the US.
Show us on the doll where the Reagan-era propaganda touched you.
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 23 2019, @07:31PM (2 children)
Right in the economics :(
Your turn, show us with the doll how the doctor dropped you.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday November 24 2019, @12:55AM (1 child)
Economics? Even Russia is better off economically than when the USSR fell apart.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 24 2019, @12:28PM
Russia is basically USSR2.0 at this point. We'll see where it goes after mr Pi finally dies.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 23 2019, @10:21PM (1 child)
Google and Apple have a monopoly on smartphone hardware and software. They are both part of PRISM and likely other US government surveillance programs.
And, yes - the US government effectively did all they could to prevent Huawei from being able to compete in the US market.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday November 25 2019, @10:12AM
Doesn't satisfy the definition of monopoly since you have at least two parties right there. You also have a number of other companies in the mix, mostly not in the US. Even if you are speaking of the technical spot monopolies of patents and other IP, those other companies have plenty of their own IP. And such monopolies never prevent someone from competing in the smartphone market nor allow one to. They're merely a modest market advantage on their own.
So? That remains a far cry from the Russian move. For example, it still allows competition from other Chinese manufacturers, as well as the rest of the Far East Asia and Europe to compete. And it doesn't cover all electronics.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 23 2019, @11:54PM
And given the way many American celebrities have been cozying up to Communist leaders and the way our government has been cozying up to both communist and fascist policies our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents fought and died to keep from coming to our lands... Well.