US security agency reports that China-made hospital patient monitors contain a backdoor that sends confidential monitoring data to a third-party university.
This is why I hesitate to use Chinese-brand electronics, even though some of their offerings are appealing and they are often price competitive. I would rather just have the peace of mind and buy Korean or Taiwanese electronics.
People in authoritarian countries have a much higher level of tolerance for intrusive policies. Countries that lack a real judicial system have less safeguards with respect to secret backdoors. Revanchist cultures that focus on national exceptionalism are more likely to develop “blind spots” with respect to government and corporate overreach.
Keep in mind that I’ve lived in multiple countries in North America, Europe and Asia and speak multiple languages; I am not just making stuff up.
You may not be convinced by what I am saying and that’s fine. I am just explaining my reasoning.
The US is an authoritarian police state, with an intelligence sector that has its claws in every industry across the globe. Of course their products are chock full of backdoors as well. And all of the leaks and whistleblowers have confirmed that.
No. It taught me the importance of nuance and to avoid simplistic black and white thinking.
Recognizing that while the US has many problems, it is no where close to russia (at least so far).
Don’t take my word for it. Vladimir Kara Murza, who was jailed by putin for publicly opposing the full scale invasion of Ukraine, is able to see the difference.
[Interviewer] A lot of Americans are worried now about the future of their own democracy. Polls show that was top of mind for a large number of voters. As someone who’s seen authoritarianism firsthand, do you think it’s reasonable for people in the US or other democracies to be worried about their countries remaining democracies?
Well, first of all, I do think it’s right to never be complacent about this, to never take things for granted. I think it was President Reagan who said that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. That is unfortunately, absolutely true, and we all have to be vigilant about this. But you know, I’m an optimist about Russia, and I’m certainly an optimist about the United States.
You’ve had two-and-a-half centuries of democratic institutions and democratic traditions. That’s not going to suddenly be undone because of any single person in the space of four years. So I don’t share these alarmist sorts of views and predictions. But it’s right that people are concerned because we always have to stand guard and make sure that we protect these democratic institutions.
This is why I hesitate to use Chinese-brand electronics, even though some of their offerings are appealing and they are often price competitive. I would rather just have the peace of mind and buy Korean or Taiwanese electronics.
You believe there are not backdoors built into Korean or Taiwanese products?
There is less likelihood of such backdoros than with Chinese products.
What makes you think that? We’ve seen loads of western backdoors exposed, and we know they also engage in supply chain intervention.
People in authoritarian countries have a much higher level of tolerance for intrusive policies. Countries that lack a real judicial system have less safeguards with respect to secret backdoors. Revanchist cultures that focus on national exceptionalism are more likely to develop “blind spots” with respect to government and corporate overreach.
Keep in mind that I’ve lived in multiple countries in North America, Europe and Asia and speak multiple languages; I am not just making stuff up.
You may not be convinced by what I am saying and that’s fine. I am just explaining my reasoning.
The US is an authoritarian police state, with an intelligence sector that has its claws in every industry across the globe. Of course their products are chock full of backdoors as well. And all of the leaks and whistleblowers have confirmed that.
I’ve lived for many years in both russia and the US. As I said earlier, my life experience makes it impossible for me to align with campist rhetoric.
If your life experience taught you to defend fascists, you learned the wrong lessons.
No. It taught me the importance of nuance and to avoid simplistic black and white thinking.
Recognizing that while the US has many problems, it is no where close to russia (at least so far).
Don’t take my word for it. Vladimir Kara Murza, who was jailed by putin for publicly opposing the full scale invasion of Ukraine, is able to see the difference.