this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2024
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Privacy
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Not much a fan of this instance (privacy) I think it's a little too knee jerk in it's reactions, but misuse of funds is something that should always be brought to attention, I hope this story gains traction.
Are you saying you agree with them buying banned surveillance cameras?
(I'm a different guy, but) I don't necessarily agree or disagree with them buying banned cameras, because I lack prerequisite knowledge to form an accurate conclusion. Namely, I need to know if I agree with the ban.
Take for example Baofeng/Btech HAM radios, or the Yaesu FT-60 ("E" iirc, not all models). Those are banned for sale in America, not because of chinese spyware, but because the FCC has decided you cannot use part 95 radios to transmit on GMRS or FRS frequencies, and since those radios allow the user to transmit on those freqs, they are illegal to sell in the US. The other models of Yaesu FT-60 lock those channels out and you have to desolder a chip to unlock it, making it legal to sell. Baofeng supposedly was told to do the same or it's illegal to sell their radios, and well, last one I bought was still able to transmit on those freqs, so it looks like I bought "illegal chinese radios." I don't care though, because I think that law is stupid. It's literally just because you're limited to 2.5w max on those channels and those radios are 3-5w, so you can totally just put it on low (a whole .5w over the limit) and who cares?
Now, if it's not something stupid like that and instead the cameras are banned for a good reason like spying (and they probably are,) sure, I disagree with them buying the cameras. But if it's some FCC bullshit like that? Fuck it.
As far as I am aware, the Baofengs only blocked it in firmware and there's some hacks to unlock it without hardware mods.
Also, did you buy that last one in the US or from somewhere like AliExpress? If the former, could have just been old stock, if the latter, I am not really surprised.
US, could have been old stock, could have been "yeeeeahhhh...firmware...." because it was like 3mo ago lol.
Either way "leave ~~Brittney~~ Baofeng alone!" I like my shitty illegal radios that can broadcast on the convenient channels at .5w too high!
Not if the money they use was meant for public health.
Are you trying to put me atop a slippery slope?
It can gain all the traction in the world, Americans aren't going to do anything.
Seems like it might be too late for America, the people are just laying down time after time.
There are plenty of examples regarding things being brought to light and dealt with. That there are also times things aren't properly dealt with is no reason to disparage the entire populous. These are the reactions that keep me from taking this instance seriously.