>They're not conflating them, they are pointing out that the closedness of the system and the control it gives Apple will be a useful tool to authoritarians who can force Apple to exert their power in certain ways.

Oh well that’s not new. Apple has operated in China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

So the idea that they would be hesitant to dip their feet into complying with less savory governments is… laughable.

The current political landscape really isn’t new whatsoever. It might even be less authoritarianism overall than when Apple started in the 80’s.