I bet hes kind of right, here in the UK we just lost a whole bunch of rights and privacies online under the guise of “protect the kids” but its kind of weird to be piping up against it when theres actually protections needed.
It would be weird if it were the only time he’s called out the Google and Apple monopolies and their control over apps, but it’s been a running theme for him (and his legal battles). Two examples from a quick lookup:
His tweet where he calls out Apple for removing privacy apps at the request of Russia, and for allegedly threatening to remove Twitter in 2024.
His tweet on Apple removing the Russian social media app VK following the US sanctions related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Personally, I see no issue with platforms removing content they deem to be problematic, and I’m sure Sweeney agrees, given that the Epic store prohibits pornography for example. However, as he’s said repeatedly, Apple in particular is unique in that it removing an app means there’s practically no way for an iPhone user to access it, since there’s no sideloading.
If it were an app dedicated to CSAM, I don’t think anyone would take issue, but his argument is that removing the app would deplatform all of its 500M users, most of whom are probably not pedos. I’m critical of people being on X, but it’s also undeniable that despite the far-right leaning and CEO, there are still leftists and people belonging to minority groups who are on it, for whatever reason. Are they pedophile and Nazi enablers too? I’m inclined to say yes, but I don’t know how many people would agree.
This isn’t really a change, though, I’m pretty sure. People have been able to make photo-realistic depictions a lot longer than AI has existed and those have rightfully been held to be illegal in most places because the confusion it causes makes it harder to stop the real thing.
I think the difference here is that Twitter has basically installed a “child porn” button. If their reaction had been to pull the product and install effective safeguards, it wouldn’t be as bad. It’s a serious fuckup, but people screw up every day.
Instead, they’ve made it so you can pay them to have access to the child porn generator.
Its not really a change, so much as its suddenly incredibly easy for anyone of any ability to do it as much as they want with near seamless results.
Every year its got easier and easier to do it more and more believably, but suddenly all you have to do is literally ask the computer and it happens. The line has to be drawn somewhere.
I bet hes kind of right, here in the UK we just lost a whole bunch of rights and privacies online under the guise of “protect the kids” but its kind of weird to be piping up against it when theres actually protections needed.
It would be weird if it were the only time he’s called out the Google and Apple monopolies and their control over apps, but it’s been a running theme for him (and his legal battles). Two examples from a quick lookup:
Personally, I see no issue with platforms removing content they deem to be problematic, and I’m sure Sweeney agrees, given that the Epic store prohibits pornography for example. However, as he’s said repeatedly, Apple in particular is unique in that it removing an app means there’s practically no way for an iPhone user to access it, since there’s no sideloading.
If it were an app dedicated to CSAM, I don’t think anyone would take issue, but his argument is that removing the app would deplatform all of its 500M users, most of whom are probably not pedos. I’m critical of people being on X, but it’s also undeniable that despite the far-right leaning and CEO, there are still leftists and people belonging to minority groups who are on it, for whatever reason. Are they pedophile and Nazi enablers too? I’m inclined to say yes, but I don’t know how many people would agree.
Edit: Format and details.
This isn’t really a change, though, I’m pretty sure. People have been able to make photo-realistic depictions a lot longer than AI has existed and those have rightfully been held to be illegal in most places because the confusion it causes makes it harder to stop the real thing.
I think the difference here is that Twitter has basically installed a “child porn” button. If their reaction had been to pull the product and install effective safeguards, it wouldn’t be as bad. It’s a serious fuckup, but people screw up every day.
Instead, they’ve made it so you can pay them to have access to the child porn generator.
Its not really a change, so much as its suddenly incredibly easy for anyone of any ability to do it as much as they want with near seamless results.
Every year its got easier and easier to do it more and more believably, but suddenly all you have to do is literally ask the computer and it happens. The line has to be drawn somewhere.