This post is so steeped in bias that I feel the author is living in a separate reality. I hesitate to even call it a hit piece because it's not focused enough to form a cogent argument. Microsoft...
This post is so steeped in bias that I feel the author is living in a separate reality. I hesitate to even call it a hit piece because it's not focused enough to form a cogent argument.
Microsoft operates a massive cloud platform, provides various online services, and sells the most popular desktop operating system that exists. It should not be a surprise that parties of all stripes will use their services and software. Some of those parties you will not like - be them governments, companies, or individuals. It does not make Microsoft evil by association.
Attacking on the basis of PRISM is just as flawed now as it was during the initial revelations. Like everybody else, they were compelled into the program by the US government. Nobody signed up simply because they wanted to be included too. Refusal meant serious consequences - likely prison time. If you're blaming Microsoft then you're mistaking the forest for the trees.
If you work at any of these places, you should quit. Not next quarter, not next month, not next week: today.
You can't just burn it all down and expect things to be better the next time. Quit for your own reasons, if and when you'd like.
"You, a private company in a land of private companies, must comply with a government request to provide assistance with a cruel measure of detention – or come under legal assault, because...
"You, a private company in a land of private companies, must comply with a government request to provide assistance with a cruel measure of detention – or come under legal assault, because standing out of human rights violations is not an option here"
No, that bit was in the context of PRISM specifically. So "You, a private company in a land of private companies, must comply with a government request to provide all information you have on all...
No, that bit was in the context of PRISM specifically. So
"You, a private company in a land of private companies, must comply with a government request to provide all information you have on all of your users – or come under legal assault, because standing out of human rights violations is not an option here"
although I was under the impression that participation in PRISM was voluntary, just because otherwise why would different companies be signing on at different times.
Pure speculation from me: Those companies didn't sign on, I think they were targetted and legally compelled by the NSA. It would take time for the NSA to build the legal case necessary to force...
otherwise why would different companies be signing on at different times.
Pure speculation from me: Those companies didn't sign on, I think they were targetted and legally compelled by the NSA. It would take time for the NSA to build the legal case necessary to force each company. I expect we'll never know since (from what I recall) those legal cases were hidden under special powers.
In my head, I was referring to Microsoft's assistance to ICE and their detention of immigrants. This was the basis of my wording. It seems that we agree on the situation in general.
In my head, I was referring to Microsoft's assistance to ICE and their detention of immigrants. This was the basis of my wording.
It seems that we agree on the situation in general.
He lost me when equated licensing software to the military with aiding mass murderers. You may disapprove military action, but they’re not the same. This is woke teenager propaganda.
He lost me when equated licensing software to the military with aiding mass murderers. You may disapprove military action, but they’re not the same.
It's not even like he cited them building custom software for missile control systems or something like that either. One of his examples was that in 1998, aircraft carriers ran Windows NT. I mean,...
It's not even like he cited them building custom software for missile control systems or something like that either. One of his examples was that in 1998, aircraft carriers ran Windows NT. I mean, come on.
I think the general impulse is one of purity, that if you could somehow avoid any connections to bad things then you would not be contaminated by them. If you talk to an enemy or do a transaction...
I think the general impulse is one of purity, that if you could somehow avoid any connections to bad things then you would not be contaminated by them. If you talk to an enemy or do a transaction with them, that makes you bad by association.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the government and military uses all major OSes, anyway. They also use Linux for some of their servers, most likely, so if you work on Linux are you equally to blame for the...
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the government and military uses all major OSes, anyway. They also use Linux for some of their servers, most likely, so if you work on Linux are you equally to blame for the governments murdering? They also drive Chevrolet and Ford vehicles, so should all of their employees quit, too?
This post is so steeped in bias that I feel the author is living in a separate reality. I hesitate to even call it a hit piece because it's not focused enough to form a cogent argument.
Microsoft operates a massive cloud platform, provides various online services, and sells the most popular desktop operating system that exists. It should not be a surprise that parties of all stripes will use their services and software. Some of those parties you will not like - be them governments, companies, or individuals. It does not make Microsoft evil by association.
Attacking on the basis of PRISM is just as flawed now as it was during the initial revelations. Like everybody else, they were compelled into the program by the US government. Nobody signed up simply because they wanted to be included too. Refusal meant serious consequences - likely prison time. If you're blaming Microsoft then you're mistaking the forest for the trees.
You can't just burn it all down and expect things to be better the next time. Quit for your own reasons, if and when you'd like.
"You, a private company in a land of private companies, must comply with a government request to provide assistance with a cruel measure of detention – or come under legal assault, because standing out of human rights violations is not an option here"
Am I reading this correctly?
No, that bit was in the context of PRISM specifically. So
"You, a private company in a land of private companies, must comply with a government request to provide all information you have on all of your users – or come under legal assault, because standing out of human rights violations is not an option here"
although I was under the impression that participation in PRISM was voluntary, just because otherwise why would different companies be signing on at different times.
Pure speculation from me: Those companies didn't sign on, I think they were targetted and legally compelled by the NSA. It would take time for the NSA to build the legal case necessary to force each company. I expect we'll never know since (from what I recall) those legal cases were hidden under special powers.
In my head, I was referring to Microsoft's assistance to ICE and their detention of immigrants. This was the basis of my wording.
It seems that we agree on the situation in general.
He lost me when equated licensing software to the military with aiding mass murderers. You may disapprove military action, but they’re not the same.
This is woke teenager propaganda.
It's not even like he cited them building custom software for missile control systems or something like that either. One of his examples was that in 1998, aircraft carriers ran Windows NT. I mean, come on.
I think the general impulse is one of purity, that if you could somehow avoid any connections to bad things then you would not be contaminated by them. If you talk to an enemy or do a transaction with them, that makes you bad by association.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the government and military uses all major OSes, anyway. They also use Linux for some of their servers, most likely, so if you work on Linux are you equally to blame for the governments murdering? They also drive Chevrolet and Ford vehicles, so should all of their employees quit, too?