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We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

(hugotunius.se)
2071 points K0nserv | 4 comments | 31 Aug 25 21:46 UTC | HN request time: 0.754s | source
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idle_zealot ◴[01 Sep 25 00:21 UTC] No.45088298[source]▶
This makes the point that the real battle we should be fighting is not for control of Android/iOS, but the ability to run other operating systems on phones. That would be great, but as the author acknowledges, building those alternatives is basically impossible. Even assuming that building a solid alternative is feasible, though, I don't think their point stands. Generally I'm not keen on legislatively forcing a developer to alter their software, but let's be real: Google and Apple have more power than most nations. I'm all for mandating that they change their code to be less user-hostile, for the same reason I prefer democracy to autocracy. Any party with power enough to impact millions of lives needs to be accountable to those it affects. I don't see the point of distinguishing between government and private corporation when that corporation is on the same scale of power and influence.
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1. wisty ◴[01 Sep 25 01:32 UTC] No.45088634[source]▶
Remember, the law provides patent, copyright, trade mark, and NDA protection.

While it would be a burden to require a degree of openness, it's not like companies are all rugged individualists who would never want to see legal restrictions in the field.

It's just a question of what is overall best and fairest.

Restrictions can both help and hinder innovation, and it's innovation that in the ling run makes things improve IMO.

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2. ranyume ◴[01 Sep 25 03:47 UTC] No.45089269[source]▶
>Restrictions can both help and hinder innovation

I'm not sure innovation is really impacted when restricting the private sector. Traditionally, innovation happens in public (e.g, universities) or military spaces.

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3. throw10920 ◴[01 Sep 25 04:03 UTC] No.45089324[source]▶
This is extremely dubious. There are hundreds (thousands?) of examples of innovation happening in the private sector - I could name the blue LED off the top of my head, and got personal computers, search engines, smartphones, cloud computing, and integrated circuits with less than a minute of searching.
4. ethersteeds ◴[01 Sep 25 05:10 UTC] No.45089642[source]▶
> It's just a question of what is overall best and fairest.

If only it were so. But it's not just that. It's also a question of which section of society has the power to demand or prevent the creation of such a system.

Whether enacting labor protections or the Magna Carta, these beneficial restrictions require some leverage. Otherwise what is overall beat and fairest won't be coming up.