每日英語跟讀 Ep.K248: About Tech - Apple, Google raise new concerns by yanking Russian app

Big Tech companies that operate around the globe have long promised to obey local laws and to protect civil rights while doing business.

在全球營運的科技巨頭公司向來承諾在做生意的同時，會遵守當地的法律，保障公民權利。

But when Apple and Google capitulated to Russian demands and removed a political-opposition app from their local app stores, it raised worries that two of the world’s most successful companies are more comfortable bowing to undemocratic edicts _ and maintaining a steady flow of profits _ than upholding the rights of their users.

但是，當蘋果和Google公司屈從俄羅斯的要求，將一款政治反對派的應用程式從當地應用程式商店下架時，令人擔心這兩家全球最成功的企業，在維持穩定獲利的同時，輕易就向不民主的命令低頭，而非堅持維護用戶權利。

The ban galled supporters of free elections and free expression. ``This is bad news for democracy and dissent all over the world,`` said Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel for Access Now, an internet freedom group. (AP)

這項禁令激怒了選舉和言論自由的支持者。「這是對全世界民主和異議的壞消息」，網路自由倡議團體Access Now科技法務顧問克拉苾瓦說。

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Bitcoin fever reaches Honduras with first cryptocurrency ATM 首設加密貨幣自動提款機 比特幣熱潮傳到宏都拉斯

The first cryptocurrency ATM in Honduras opened this week as bitcoin backers sought to spur demand for virtual assets after neighboring El Salvador became the first country to establish bitcoin as legal tender.

在鄰國薩爾瓦多率先將比特幣列為法定貨幣，比特幣擁護者刺激虛擬資產的需求之際，宏都拉斯第一部加密貨幣自動提款機本週啟用。

The machine allows users to acquire bitcoin and ethereum using the local lempira currency and was installed in an office tower in the capital of Tegucigalpa by Honduran firm TGU Consulting Group.

這部ATM由宏國公司TGU諮詢集團裝設在首都德古西加巴一座辦公大樓內，可讓使用者利用當地倫皮拉幣換取比特幣和乙太幣。

Juan Mayen, 28, chief executive of TGU, led the effort to bring the ATM to Honduras in hopes of educating people about virtual assets through first-hand experience. (Reuters)

現年28歲的TGU執行長馬炎帶頭推動把這台ATM引入宏都拉斯，希望讓民眾透過親身體驗，認識虛擬資產。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1481085 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1475617