- cross-posted to:
- technology@beehaw.org
- technology@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- technology@beehaw.org
- technology@lemmy.ml
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Lets build more ICE-tracking apps
Twenty years ago tracking armed thugs in ski masks would have been called a public service.
This gives honeypot vibes. IOS only with no way to access via browser?
Was curious so Iooked up the app’s site.
Apparently the devs claim they can’t release it on Android because “There’s no way to be anonymous on the play store”, but it’s even more impossible to be anonymous on the platform they’ve released. That’s how you know the developer is incredibly stupid and/or shady as hell- because they’ve never even heard of Fdroid?
Makes me think the app is a troll/trojan horse (not as in infection, trojan horse as in it has alterior motives)
The Drumpf crew “losing it” over the app just makes it more questionable. They love to create a firestorm so people talk about the thing “they definitely don’t want you to use!!” to get people to do things…
There’s no way to be anonymous on the play store
Aurora store.
I was quoting them but you’re right-or Fdroid ofc
they mentioned that its because push notifications require device id and that would make it easy to be tracked if aubpoenaed.
I’m not sure if this guy is just dumb or it’s a honeypot.
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As mentioned elsewhere, they don’t use device ID
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Android is the only platform that supports alternative push methods
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Apple knows everyone who downloads this app, which is subject to subpoena
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The gov has been collecting push notification data from both Apple and Google for a long time. It would be as simple as knowing when notifications went out and then comparing timestamps to figure out who is using the app.
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The app is closed-source
It would take significantly more mental energy on the part of the user but it would be far safer (which is extremely important in this specific case, as the dev agrees) to distribute through F-Droid and then use some other UnifiedPush implementation, as many Android apps already do. Anyone using this app is painting a huge target on their backs for the current authoritarian state.
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Push notifications though GMS don’t use the device ID; they use a generated GCM registration ID that occasionally rotates. Who knows what Google uses internally to associate GCM reg IDs to users, but to overly state that it uses device IDs is simply not correct.
I’m not suggesting push notifications are inherently secure because it’s impossible to make that determination from the outside. But their assessment is incorrect and the same privacy concerns apply to Apple.
I’m pretty certain push notifications have been shown to be grossly insecure actually…
Interesting, especially with GrapheneOS people shooting it down immediately to call them out on their baloney.
This is a really good comment
Thanks. Remember to always question everything. Especially when that -something- sounds like BS.
It’s going to be filled with false warnings from MAGA idiots and trolls…
I love how the Streisand Effect works. They just made this app the hottest thing out there.
It’s closed source, and the build and publishing pipeline isn’t transparent.
For me that makes this no different than a potential ICE honey pot
the honey pot for what? people who don’t like ice? that makes no sense
Maybe they’re looking for pretense for more authoritarian action on digital services/internet. We already have a bill in process that opens the door for government censorship of the internet right? They could be priming the public to be ok with them stepping in to shut apps/sites down.
Secret police would probably have an interest in lists of people downloading an app tracking their movements no? Particularly if it was downloaded to a mobile tracking device they carry with themselves at most times.
no I honestly don’t know how this would help them
Using the app becomes obstruction or terrorism. People who do that will also get sent to camps.
It seems far fetched but it’s really not. After all, nobody would step to stop either of those things from happening.
if they can track those who are against them, it’s easier to eliminate dissidents
They could argue that attempting to track ICE is illegal, and all those using the app are to be arrested and tried for their crimes.
That expression LOL
Obstruction of whatever cops do, OK.
But usually it has nothing to do with justice.
Haven’t followed it much (EU), can you elaborate who did what and what can be done potentially?
Haven’t followed it much
Oh lord, where do I even start? It’s an entire shit show. And not the usual political shit show. A really scary one that’s truly heartbreaking. I don’t even really feel safe talking about it
can’t even find “Joshua Aaron” on linked in or github. feels a little sus. my moneys on honey pot
Has to be shit is glowing
which is exactly what this whole ‘meltdown’ frame for the pr hints at. republicans know how to use publicity stunts to get what they want.
dont they have site as well, just incase they decide to shut the apps.
I’m happy they’re scared.
Is the app foss?
No, and even worse, its only for apple devices lmao. These kids are so unserious in their activism it would be funny if it werent so sad. If shit hits the fan, this stuff will go down instantly and im sure it has no backup plan for a Tor based or p2p service. Activists in the US should start using Briar. This situation is exactly what it was made for and people have to get their tech game up fast or they will be done for. Get a shitty 80$ android phone if you only have an iphone. Install a panic trigger app that will wipe the phone if you are in trouble.
On ICEBlocks website it says:
Modeled after Waze but for ICE sightings, the app ensures user privacy by storing no personal data, making it impossible to trace reports back to individual users.
Which worries me, because if its closed source then thats a worthless promise and actually makes the app a perfect candidate for a honeypot or backdoor.
apple is the majority of the market, no? so if e.g. a company wanted to get a product out for a client asap, apple would be the market to aim for.
In the US it’s a very small majority.
Not even close.
im not a developer or a genius but I’m pretty sure you can write an app once using a framework like react native or whatever and then compile it for both android and ios and optionally release them along with the source code used to compile them
Turn of your capitalism brain ffs. This is not the place for companies and markets. If there is a financial interest then the app is worthless by design. iOS is not a trustable platform for anything security related so obviously you shouldnt use it for anything that concerns your physical safety. Dont forget, apple will always bend the knee to governments in the end.
You see “market” and think capitalism. By market, I meant, market-share. More users of apple products than android. So if a developer wanted greater reach…
Android has the greatest mobile OS market share by a massive margin.
But Apple users are far more likely to spend money on apps, making Apple the most lucrative target for mobile developers to target first.
Android has the greatest mobile OS market share by a massive margin.
It’s my understanding this is true globally, but not for the US, where Apple has ~60% share.
(This app should absolutely be cross-platform though)
Fair point. I neglected to consider that we are talking about an app specifically for Americans.
Not in the US, which is really the only place this app is applicable at the moment.
I don’t know, don’t Apple have a reasonable track record of pushing back against governments? I personally have even less faith in the security of android based devices or Android phone manufacturers.
Apple have a reasonable track record of pushing back against governments
Only when it comes to individual consumer cases like terrorists or other crimes. When it comes to large scale political movements then they are very quick to lend authoritarian governments a hand, see for example their cooperation with the CCP to suppress the Hong Kong protests.
Forbes for the lack of a better source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2024/10/09/apple-sells-privacy-to-consumers-but-its-quietly-helping-police-use-iphones-for-surveillance/
There’s a widespread perception that Apple has a combative relationship with law enforcement after the company refused to help the FBI hack into the iPhone of the shooter in the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attacks. But since then, it has ramped up collaboration with police through the conference and other meetings with agencies at both Cupertino HQ and its Elk Grove campus, as well as a variety of previously unreported projects helping cops use iPhones, Macs, Apple Vision Pro and CarPlay, the emails show. Most of these projects have not been announced publicly.
Apple declined to comment.
People just love believing in Apple for some weird reasons.
I am the biggest Apple hater and they are absolutely not immune from criticism, but they are generally a more private company. The CCP has their hands deep in every corporation on the planet so none of them are immune from that influence. Apple pushed back when the government demanded they dismantle encryption (Google doesn’t even offer this) for CSAM. They were also the first to disclose the government push notification collection information.
I would imagine this is very similar to marking a cop on Waze and completely legal which is why they are throwing a hissy fit.
He who saves his Country does not violate any Law
- Donald Trump
- Napoleon
- Donald Trump
Shouldn’t be an app. It should be a site accessible using vpn and private browsing with an appropriate browser. Nobody should have to worry about the Stasi finding the app on their phone regardless of the situation.
Websites don’t support push notifications in a way that normies understand. They’re also generally unreliable. And these are time-sensitive matters.
Can’t it be both?
While this is true, most people are not so tech savvy, maybe giving an option to mask app Icon to user choice can help it hide better.
going to a website (not tech savvy enough for this) vs going to the settings on an app and select a new icon (yay anyone can do it)
While I agree, in this particular case I think it’s a good idea.
Ice and snowflakes always seem to go so well with one another.
if they’re worried about being tracked maybe they could do the easiest thing in the world which is not being complete shitheads?
How do they measure the difference between partial and full meltdowns?
it’s probably rated based on how dark his bronzer is that day.
Fuck Apple!
