Apple already shipped attestation on the web, and we barely noticed

lautan@lemmy.ca to Technology@lemmy.world – 312 points –
Apple already shipped attestation on the web, and we barely noticed
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These schemes all have the same problem that reddit and Twitter have: they need me more than I need them. If your website or app or whatever won’t work if I’m not on the right device I won’t visit it, and that’s not a bad thing

It's a bit more complicated than that, unfortunately.

What happens when Microsoft adds something to their web building tools that forces all visitors to websites using these tools to use IE? Or when your bank (or even worse, utilities) start requiring Windows and IE?

It'll probably end up worse than that. Turn off secure boot and Windows may still run, but it will no longer verify and all these sites will now refuse to work on your computer. So if you like to run Linux, even dual booting or running Windows in a VM for those things that absolutely require Windows won't be good enough anymore.

It's not just that.

Apples implementation of this doesn't tell the website anything about the device other than "Apples approves".

Google's implementation will give the website direct information about the browser and computer. Which permits them to get granular and targeted on restrictions.

Its a fixed identifier, it can be a replacement for amythimg to forcably identify users:

  • super cookies
  • gpu profiling
  • unwanted cookies
  • IP adress recording (increseingly unusable)
  • phone numbers
  • ...

"Apples approves"

This reminds me: If you want to see what happens when a company implements this system where they approve your usage and then warps it into a punishment system later by revoking their approval when youve been naughty, see minecraft chat reporting.

I'd be very surprised for one thing, because IE is no longer a product Microsoft supports in any capacity. I'd also be confused as to which tools the web hosting market just shifted to that they're using Microsoft tools, there are monopolists out there I'm worried about but Microsoft isn't my main one right now

Nice job sidestepping the actual fucking question.

Microsoft tools are still very much used on the web, at least here in Washington there are a few state sites featuring the ✨aspx✨ framework.

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If I as an adult still had my mom telling me that's enough internet for today, and taking away my laptop, I'd hate it but it would objectively be good for me. This is kind of a similar thing. I don't like that these companies fuck up services I like but there's no denying that me leaving reddit for example was overall quite positive thing to happen.

Yep, that’s the bargain I’m making. I’m way happier now that I’m not yelling at nerds on Reddit/Twitter/etc. The nerds on the fediverse are much less time consuming

I think it also goes back to the fact that Twitter et al are meant to be addictive, the way I don’t like giving up Twitter is the same way I wouldn’t like giving up smoking, which both alarms me and makes me ok giving those things up

The nerds on the fediverse are much less time consuming

That's because our Fight Club requires that the glasses stay ON.

Can totally relate.

I went back and visited leddit recently and it really does make me feel more angry/annoyed overall, it’s definitely changed but it’s also definitely not new either.

No doubt the lack of mod support is partly to blame but given that rage bait is essentially the most popular tool for engagement it wouldn’t surprise me if these social media companies try to play mind games in some way

These schemes all have the same problem that reddit and Twitter have: they need me more than I need them.

This sentiment comes off a lot like "it won't affect me, I don't care".

Like, it doesn't really matter whether you decide not to use these websites anymore. Nobody should have to put up with this shit. That's why we take a stand against it.

This sentiment comes off a lot like “it won’t affect me, I don’t care”.

Then you’ve severely misunderstood what I wrote

Nobody should have to put up with this shit. That’s why we take a stand against it.

That is exactly what I’m advocating for

Exactly. There's a good reason why we don't, for example, allow people to sell themselves into slavery, even if they "consent" to it!

I hope you will make the difference. Show em!

If everyone who is informed about privacy and security boycotts I don't think that will make much difference unfortunately. There are billions who don't know or don't care.

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