Discussion

• @johnpaczkowski John Paczkowski on x

  Apple on #Ukraine: we have disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens https://twitter.com/...

• @johnpaczkowski John Paczkowski on x

  “We have paused all product sales in Russia. Last week, we stopped all exports into our sales channel in the country. Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia.” https://twitter.…

• @fedorovmykhailo @fedorovmykhailo on x

  No more @Apple product sales in Russia! Now @tim_cook let's finish the job and block @AppStore access in Russia. They kill our children, now kill their access!

• @irgarner Dr. Ian Garner on x

  People are not ready for their iPhones to disappear to inflation and sanctions (joke seen in the wild today: “Don't drop your iPhone, because it's going to be your last"). People are not ready for hyper-inflation.

• @kevinrothrock Kevin Rothrock on x

  Apple has suspended all sales through its official online store in Russia. For any purchases, the delivery date now shows “currently unavailable.” I guess people returning from the West can always bring new iPhones with them on the pla—OH WAIT https://t.me/...

• @fedorovmykhailo @fedorovmykhailo on x

  Joint forces of Ukrainian music industry, @mintsyfra and Slukh media appeal to the @AppleMusic and @Spotify leadership. We ask you to allow our artists change their album covers to draw the attention to the bloody war in Ukraine. Let us engage more Russian sane people! https://tw…

• @munster_gene Gene Munster on x

  Bravo Tim! Apple continues to make the world a better place.

• @epro Emil Protalinski on x

  Apple takes forever to make a move, but when it does, it's decisive. https://twitter.com/...

• @evan_greer Evan Greer on x

  they're still happily censoring apps on behalf of China's government tho... https://t.co/9wMZAlJKMq

• @nadinedorries Nadine Dorries on x

  This is good. Let's keep up the pressure. https://twitter.com/...

• @andyswan Andy Swan on x

  Not making a judgement one way or another on this type of “cancelling” activity during war but... I will observe that I have yet to see an article/tweet even mention the possible ways that these kinds of things could backfire, and terribly so. https://twitter.com/...

• @benedictevans Benedict Evans on x

  As others have pointed out, Apple doesn't have a problem doing business in China. (It's always easier to stand on your principles when it's not 20% of your revenue and most of your manufacturing)

• @benedictevans Benedict Evans on x

  @joristi That's the second option.

• @benedictevans Benedict Evans on x

  @alexstamos Apple finds it easier to stand on principle when other people's money is at stake

• @markscott82 Mark Scott on x

  3) they are getting different advice from different govts/regulators in terms of how to respond. 4) there's also disunity between companies in appropriate response to the war — and a lack of playbook despite previous regional conflicts 5) no one wants to go first, on anything

• @runasand Runa Sandvik on x

  Everybody deserves good security, including access to secure messaging apps in the App Store and all their updates. https://twitter.com/...

• @joristi @joristi on x

  @benedictevans Or because the price of an iPhone dropped $200 overnight 😅

• @markscott82 Mark Scott on x

  6) resolve is hardening against Moscow, but concern that too strong action will limit access to companies' services in Russia 7) that isn't about making money. The swift sanctions already have taken that off the table.

• @benedictevans Benedict Evans on x

  Wondering if Apple has stopped sales in Russia because it doesn't want to sell there or because, given FX volatility and banking sanctions, it just can't sell there.

• @macrumors @macrumors on x

  Apple in a statement said that it is joining those around the world who are calling for peace. The company has also stopped all exports into its sales channel in the Russia, and has disabled traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety measure. https://twitter.…

• @tristansnell Tristan Snell on x

  Apple has now stopped selling to Russia. Every American company should do the same.

• @jsrailton John Scott-Railton on x

  3/ Conversations about app privacy & location data risks can be a bit...abstract. Not in #Ukraine. I hope every VIP in Ukraine's government has carefully assessed what apps are in their pockets. And which countries might be able to have a peek at the data.

• @pwthornton Patrick Thornton on x

  Now Russians will be forced to use shitty Android phones, and, heaven help them, Dell laptops. https://twitter.com/...

• @snazzyq Quinn Nelson on x

  @stroughtonsmith This assumes Apple's actions are somehow in support of Ukraine and not just pulling sales in countries that are in financial crisis as they've historically done.

• @stephennellis Stephen Nellis on x

  Apple has previously halted some sales in both Russia (2014) and Turkey (2021) due to currency volatility - https://www.bloomberg.com/... https://www.reuters.com/...

• @silvermanjacob Jacob Silverman on x

  Will Apple stop selling products in Saudi Arabia or any of the other dictatorships where it does business? https://twitter.com/...

• @asymco Horace Dediu on x

  @ondrazao All Russian developer accounts will be suspended, also by default. There is no way to get money in or out.

• @pt @pt on x

  Good call. I also would not want rubles at the moment. https://twitter.com/...

• @stroughtonsmith Steve Troughton-Smith on x

  For those expecting a keynote announcement today from Apple, it would have been in very poor taste without first responding to the crisis in Ukraine and the part, however small, it plays thereof. I imagine they are free to send out event invites now

• @zilevandamme Phumzile Van Damme on x

  We must not forget the precedents set by Twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok and big tech. There are so many brutal dictatorships that could do with sanctions but escape scot-free. This is good PR but bad PR will be when you don't do same in other parts of the world. https://twitter.com/.…

• @neilcybart Neil Cybart on x

  Tim Cook (in a message to employees) confirms that Apple stopped all exports to Russia. Based on language from the White House (released last week), Apple products would be included within export controls. https://twitter.com/...

• @stephennellis Stephen Nellis on x

  Apple has halted all product sales in Russia. The move was voluntary - it wasn't required to do so by U.S. sanctions imposed last week - and is one of the most extraordinary actions taken yet by a U.S. company in response to the invasion of Ukraine - https://www.theinformation.co…

• @carltonreid Carlton Reid on x

  The new Russian joke “Don't drop your iPhone, it'll be the last you'll be able to buy here” looks like it might be becoming reality. https://twitter.com/...

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  1) I'm glad they didn't cut off the App Store, as secure messaging and VPNs are critical to the domestic opposition. 2) Apple has done more for the PRC than any other US tech company has done for any other authoritarian state, and I hope this reopens that decision internally. htt…

• @markscott82 Mark Scott on x

  From discussions with ppl working inside tech companies over last week, a few things have become clear: 1) they were slow to react to uniqueness of war in Ukraine (no, this isn't another Jan 6) 2) there's disagreement on how far to go in response to Kremlin, esp on blocking

• @thegrugq @thegrugq on x

  @alexstamos Overwhelming public support and a powerful movement to get behind where there's practically no potential for a negative outcome.

• @jason @jason on x

  I've always loved the three act play format [brags about his tweet reply to Tim Cook, asking him to stop selling iPhones in Russia]

• @stroughtonsmith Steve Troughton-Smith on x

  @SnazzyQ I wouldn't expect their discontinuation of product sales to be anything but a financial decision. The other steps they are taking are in support of Ukraine

• @neilcybart Neil Cybart on x

  Here's the White House on export controls to Russia. “Russia-wide restrictions on sensitive U.S. technologies produced in foreign countries using U.S.-origin software, technology, or equipment.” Broad description. Would seem to include Apple products. https://whitehouse.gov/... h…

• @amir Amir Efrati on x

  Now up to 15 companies our list as @Dell halts device and server sales to Russia. https://twitter.com/...

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  For example, Chinese dissidents are prevented by Apple's hardware-rooted DRM from installing secure messengers and VPNs, which is exactly the use case we want in Russia. The PRC is conducting a genocide domestically; what more does Apple need to act?

• @kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x

  Platform power on display https://twitter.com/...

• @jsrailton John Scott-Railton on x

  2/ The sheer amount of data emitted from the #Ukraine conflict is mind blowing. Example: all the random apps on folks' phones, providing location information to god-knows-what-app-developer / data broker. Nice illustration that location data privacy = national security issue.

• @danielstrauss4 Daniel Strauss on x

  Time to dust off those Zunes. https://twitter.com/...

• @ewong Edward Wong on x

  US sanctions on Russia have not focused on consumer goods. But Apple and some other companies are starting to halt their exports. https://twitter.com/...

• @samifathi_ Sami Fathi on x

  🚨 BREAKING: Tim Cook in an email to @Apple staff comments on #Ukraine and #Russia, saying “I know I speak for everyone at Apple in expressing our concern for all of those affected by the violence,” and adds Apple is donating to relief efforts. Full email here: Tip @Techmeme https…

• @jamespmcleod @jamespmcleod on x

  whoa, one of the world's most powerful governments just imposed sanctions https://twitter.com/...

• @ngleicher Nathaniel Gleicher on x

  3/ Links: We have also begun to demote posts with links to Russian state-controlled media websites on Facebook. In the days ahead, we will label these links so people who do see them will have context before clicking or sharing. We plan to take similar steps on Instagram as well.…

• @irgarner Dr. Ian Garner on x

  Big Thread: After a few more days of war, I've been carefully monitoring Russian social media reaction and production and I'm more convinced than before that Putin's regime has totally overestimated its ability to win a propaganda war.

• @samidh @samidh on x

  @alexeheath The feed demotion, however, is a bold measure to do at an entity level. But Meta was likely left with no choice because they needed to at least partially undo the damage that years of recommending these entities have done (and the scores of permanent Page followers th…

• @runasand Runa Sandvik on x

  This is great news! Meta is making encrypted one-to-one chats in Instagram available to people in Ukraine and Russia. 🔐 https://techcrunch.com/...

• @slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x

  This is another half-measure which will inevitably end with them banning the outlets when another platform finally makes the first step. As always with Facebook (@meta), they are cowards. They get no credit for making this move.

• @mattnavarra Matt Navarra on x

  Between 20 Feb - 28 Feb 2022: Views on videos tagged with #ukraine jumped from 6.4 billion to 17.1 billion—a rate of 1.3 billion views a day, or 928,000 views a minute https://www.wired.com/...

• @blackamazon @blackamazon on x

  Because suddenly the algorithm can be adjusted . And discussed openly with no problem ? But when it's anti Black violence , and those systems we need time , it's not news worthy https://twitter.com/...

• @intelwire @intelwire on x

  This is good, but also I am continually amazed by how companies that stake their business model on predicting behavior are incapable of anticipating human behavior. https://twitter.com/...

• @amandarivkin Amanda Rivkin on x

  All it took were missiles into a major European capital: Facebook has stopped recommending Russian state media globally https://www.theverge.com/... via @Verge

• @sivavaid @sivavaid on x

  This is a big escalation. It raises two questions, though. 1) Why didn't they do this seven years ago, or at least seven days ago? 2) Why not do this and refrain from announcing it? Why tip off Russian propagandists, allowing them to route around the limits? https://twitter.com/.…

• @runasand Runa Sandvik on x

  I'd love to see @Twitter roll out end-to-end encrypted DMs. If Meta can make it happen in Messenger and Instagram chats, Twitter can figure it out too. 🔐

• @joshsternberg Josh Sternberg on x

  Why can't Facebook do this ... normally? Why does it take Russia invading Ukraine to demote propaganda? And when will Facebook do the same here? https://www.protocol.com/...

• @deviantollam @deviantollam on x

  and... for the rest of us around the world? https://twitter.com/...

• @brianklaas Brian Klaas on x

  Amazing that when these companies want to do the responsible thing, they literally just have to flip a switch. Maybe don't wait for a war next time? https://twitter.com/...

• @sarafischer Sara Fischer on x

  NEW: Roku now says it will remove RT from the Roku Channel Store everywhere, including the US. Yesterday it said it would remove it in Europe only, where regulators banned those networks. https://twitter.com/...

• @ideagov Alan W. Silberberg on x

  Frickin finally. After a decade plus of them doing Putin's bidding. https://twitter.com/...

• @issielapowsky @issielapowsky on x

  NEW: Another little bit of news to come out of Facebook's transparency report today: it's rolling out alerts to notify users when their posts are removed by automated systems. This was one of the Oversight Board's recs https://www.protocol.com/...

• @b_fung Brian Fung on x

  Meta says it's now downranking Russian state media pages as well as links to their websites, and soon will show warnings to users who attempt to share those links. Twitter announced a similar move yesterday. https://twitter.com/...

• @mikeelgan @mikeelgan on x

  Facebook (Meta) admits that it has been RECOMMENDING Russian propaganda. https://t.co/TshfDm1lsg

• @hodgesmr Matt Hodges on x

  What happens if a Ukrainian or Russian DMs someone outside of those regions? https://twitter.com/...

• @alexeheath Alex Heath on x

  And it could have ramifications for Meta's ability to keep operating in Russia, where the government is already slowing its service speeds. “The degradation of the service is definitely discernible,” Meta's @nickclegg told reporters this morning.

• @alexeheath Alex Heath on x

  This is perhaps the first time Meta has taken such action (throttling distribution globally) against state media. “It's unprecedented in terms of doing that to an official state media outlet, at least to my knowledge,” former policy director @katieharbath told me

• @mattgaetz Matt Gaetz on x

  Breaking: Meta treating Russian State Media like they've treated Republicans for years. https://twitter.com/...

• @googleeurope @googleeurope on x

  Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we're blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately. It'll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action.

• @lauraedelson2 Laura Edelson on x

  As someone who studies misinformation, the past week has been a masterclass in how positive actors with a strong information operation and tech platforms being (somewhat) sensible can create an environment in which misinformation struggles to take hold. A 🧵.

• @fedorovmykhailo @fedorovmykhailo on x

  Meta is stepping up to shut down Russian lies. When will @YouTube? We are calling on @Google to deplatform Russian state media in the strongest possible terms. @susanwojcicki @sundarpichai

• @broderick Ryan Broderick on x

  Interesting to find out that during every radicalized election, every genocide, every riot around the world over the last 10 years, huge tech platforms could have swiftly identified disinformation and malicious propaganda and paused their distribution of it, but they didn't. http…

• @jimwaterson Jim Waterson on x

  YouTube has geoblocked RT from viewers in the UK, seemingly as part of a Europe-wide ban prompted by EU demands. Which means RT is currently on British TV screens (for now, pending Ofcom) but not on the main online streaming video platform. https://twitter.com/...

• @eliothiggins Eliot Higgins on x

  What you get if you visit Russia Today's YouTube channel from the UK https://www.youtube.com/c/RT https://twitter.com/...

• @kolga Marcus Kolga on x

  Please remove RT from your North American platforms too @Google @YouTube https://twitter.com/...

• @americascomic John Field on x

  I always wondered how these platforms could all drive off ISIS ten years ago and yet every other bad community since was uncontainable. https://twitter.com/...

• @ezralevant Ezra Levant on x

  But why have you chosen not to block YouTube channels connected to the Chinese Communist Party? Are European victims more valuable to you than Chinese victims? https://twitter.com/...

• @lauraedelson2 Laura Edelson on x

  TECH PLATFORMS: They're not totally beefing it! They deserve credit for blocking RT and Sputnik in Europe. But not blocking long-time spreaders of misinformation globally when the government that controls them is actively trying to lie about their war atrocities is... NUTS. 5/8

• @binzimation Lindsay Thompson on x

  The devastating effects of unbridled misinformation will become increasingly clearer in the coming days. https://twitter.com/...

• @ayeshaasiddiqi Ayesha A. Siddiqi on x

  in large part bc it was right wing propaganda that either served their interests (virality) or matched their world view (people severely misapprehend the world view of a particular generation of tech leaders) https://twitter.com/...

• @elilake Eli Lake on x

  My concern with this is that it betrays a lack of confidence. None of Russia's propaganda or bribery could overcome the effect Putin's deranged speech or the heroism of Ukrainians had on European public opinion. Better to ridicule Russian lies, not censor them. https://twitter.co…

• @evacukier Eva Cukier on x

  In Russia misinformation and censorship are reaching a peak, and comparable to the worst dictatorships. Media closed, critics persecuted, hugely repressive legislation in the making. https://twitter.com/...

• @drewcurtis Drew Curtis on x

  .@Google: explain your carve out for North America https://twitter.com/...

• @blackamazon @blackamazon on x

  Well when they saw no one would hold them to task to protect the targets? Why would they and they now have the benefit or the racist memory hole https://twitter.com/...

• @carolecadwalla Carole Cadwalladr on x

  RT has been the most successful news channel on @youtube for years. Google has fed Russian propaganda to millions upon millions of people & directly profited from enabling the Kremlin to fulfil its foreign policy goals. https://twitter.com/...

• @fedorovmykhailo @fedorovmykhailo on x

  Russia blindfolds Russian people and kills Ukrainian children. @YouTube, we ask you to act: block the main propaganda channel — Russia24 for all YouTube users in Russia and worldwide. We have to stop this evil machine!

• @pewjournalism @pewjournalism on x

  In today's news: - YouTube blocks Kremlin-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik in Europe - Insider and Axel Springer invest in new podcast company Spooler - Twitter to label tweets linking to Russian state-affiliated media & more: https://www.pewresearch.org/ ...

• @wandrme Seth Miller on x

  The half-assedness of only blocking it in Europe is most unfortunate. Propaganda is propaganda, regardless of where it is viewed. https://twitter.com/...

• @alexbward Alex Ward on x

  Zelenskyy sends letter to @YouTube's CEO Susan Wojcicki and @Google's Sundar Pichai to block or remove Russian TV and other services from their platforms https://twitter.com/...

• @satariano Adam Satariano on x

  Russian authorities have now demanded that YouTube and TikTok lift restrictions on RT and Sputnik. Twitter and Facebook are already restricted inside Russia. YouTube could be next. https://rkn.gov.ru/...

• @vonderleyen Ursula von der Leyen on x

  Second, we will ban the Kremlin's media machine in the EU. The state-owned Russia Today and Sputnik, and their subsidiaries, will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin's war. We are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe. ht…

• @nickclegg Nick Clegg on x

  We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state controlled media. Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time.

• @oneunderscore__ Ben Collins on x

  Quick thread: I want you all to meet Vladimir Bondarenko. He's a blogger from Kiev who really hates the Ukrainian government. He also doesn't exist, according to Facebook. He's an invention of a Russian troll farm targeting Ukraine. His face was made by AI. https://twitter.com/..…

• @andymstone Andy Stone on x

  @donie @Karde yes, blocking access

• @lesiavasylenko Lesia Vasylenko on x

  I like this news. Forgot to tweet this yesterday. But yes, make Europe free from propaganda! https://twitter.com/...

• @aishagani Aisha S Gani on x

  Wonder what message this gives to the Rohingya and Ethiopians who see posts inciting hatred everyday on their feeds. Aren't their situations [ie ethnic cleansing] exceptional? https://twitter.com/...

• @sunny_hundal Sunny Hundal on x

  They didn't do this when elected politicians were inciting genocide in Myanmar and Sri Lanka recently though. https://twitter.com/...

• @alexeheath Alex Heath on x

  confirmed this means RT and Sputnik pages aren't viewable in the EU (interestingly does not apply in Russia or elsewhere) https://twitter.com/...

• @slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x

  Keep in mind that 1) the EU was already working on ways to ban both outlets; 2) @meta and @Microsoft already announced this same thing yesterday and 3) it's only for Europe. They should receive no thanks or credit for this move. It's still a half measure & it was inevitable. http…