Riley Testut Apr 24, 2025

I don’t know about y’all, but if I had to choose between the EU or the US government to root for right now…there is absolutely no way in hell I’m rooting for the US

Apple made their bed with a fascist, so now any win for Apple is a win for authoritarianism. Freedom! https://www.macrumors.com/2025/04/24/white-house-hits-back-at-eu-fine/

White House Hits Back at Apple's Massive EU Fine

Apple's $570 million fine from the EU has triggered a sharp rebuke from the White House, which called the fine a form of economic extortion,...

MacRumors
Show threadSteve BarnesApr 24, 2025

@rileytestut –

You're done developing apps for Apple devices, then? Or are you more of a bedfellow?

Show threadRiley Testut Apr 24, 2025
@Starfia if I stopped developing apps, the EU would lose an alternative app store that’s actively pressuring Apple to do better. Wouldn’t that be worse for my beliefs?
Show threadSteve BarnesApr 24, 2025

@rileytestut –

You imagine Apple can do better? Sounds like a potential win for Apple – right in line with your stated beliefs!

👀

Show threadRiley Testut Apr 24, 2025

@Starfia my beliefs are I want Apple to be better, but instead of doing that (i.e. change their attitude towards developers) they’ve chosen to run to daddy Trump and donate millions to him.

Any win *for the latter* is a win for authoritarianism IMO, do you disagree?

Show threadSteve BarnesApr 25, 2025

@rileytestut –

All right, thank you for engaging.

Let's check our facts. The only news I'm aware that you could be referring to is the story that Tim Cook personally (not Apple officially) donated one million (not multiple millions) of US dollars for Trump's inauguration. Meanwhile, there has been no statement of any kind from Cook or Apple endorsing fascism, and there have been other personal and official statements to the contrary.

Am I missing anything you're aware of that you can cite?

Show threadebbiApr 25, 2025
@Starfia @rileytestut Apple silenced employees speaking out about Palestine, and dollar matched donations to the IDF and an org that is responsible for further illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Show threadDanielApr 26, 2025
@ebbi @Starfia @rileytestut Has this been covered by any journals?
Show threadebbiApr 26, 2025

@danielinoa @Starfia @rileytestut from The Intercept

https://theintercept.com/2024/06/11/apple-donations-idf-israel-gaza-illegal-settlements/

Apple Matches Worker Donations to IDF and Illegal Settlements, Employees Allege

Self-described Apple workers, former employees, and shareholders are calling on the company to halt donations to nonprofits linked to Israel’s war effort.

The Intercept
Show threadDaniel
@ebbi @Starfia @rileytestut Thanks!
Apr 26, 2025 at 2:01pmWeb
Show threadAdamMay 12, 2025

@danielinoa

In case your interested, here are some more news articles about the company:

https://www.wired.com/story/apple-store-employees-disciplined-supporting-palestinians

https://www.theverge.com/news/611967/apple-resumes-x-twitter-ad-spending-boycott

@ebbi

Apple Store Employees Say Coworkers Were Disciplined for Supporting Palestinians

A protest is planned Saturday at a Chicago Apple store where workers say managers disciplined staff—and fired an employee—for wearing pins, bracelets, or keffiyeh in support of Palestinian people.

WIRED