Dual-purpose APIs
How does this story relate to another face of the story, as reported here?
It's not [guns|cars|bombs|apis] that kill, it's their users. If we accept that Google's APIs have problems, the kneejerk reaction to Google's changes might be uncomfortably close to that of the NRA or the AA/RAC when restrictions on their respective weapons are suggested. Perhaps the story is best summed up by Claburn's final paragraph in the linked article:
"It's a controversial modification because Google failed to get buy-in before previewing changes that affect its developer community. Also, it raises eyebrows when an ad company proposes changes that break ad blockers and privacy extensions without any commitment that these apps can be adapted to the new regime."
Biting the hand that feeds IT
