this post was submitted on 22 May 2025
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You Should Know

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Our app simplifies the process of scanning barcodes and searching for products that is listed for the boycott movement.

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[–] NGnius@lemmy.ca 61 points 1 day ago (6 children)

This is the sort of app that really needs to be open source or at least open dataset. Right now there's no way to see if their data is reliable. Aurora Store tells me that app has tracking in it (minor, but still, ewww), which is also concerning, so I'm not going to install it to find out if that information is at least provided in-app.

Oh also it's developed by this super generic-looking company BashSquare. Overall not very confidence-inspiring.

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't know anything about BashSquare, but the developer is Ahmed Bashbash, a Palestinian software engineer from Gaza residing in Hungary.

Here's the About page:

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As far as what's on the boycott list, it follows the official boycott list from my knowledge and gives an explanation on why a brand is boycotted

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It works without camera access if you have no need to scan barcodes, it does need network to access the boycott list information. It doesn't need notification or sensor access to work. At least on grapheneos

[–] NGnius@lemmy.ca 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

That's quite compelling but I still can't find any official confirmation of that information. The BashSquare website doesn't mention any employees but does mention the app (and their website is on the G Play store). IMO the information you've provided is enough to confirm it uses some of the public boycott list, but could still be omitting things (though very unlikely; that would be a wild Israeli misinformation campaign).

The boycott website doesn't provide barcode prefixes for companies to boycott, which means there is still some information that isn't verifiable, and it's one of the more crucial parts of the app's functionality (if you're not scanning barcodes you could just use the website). I did manage to find a way to look up barcode prefixes but there was no mention of a public API so it makes me think that either they're part of the app (see qualms about open/verifiable dataset) or the app is using some proprietary API/scraper to get that info.

Thanks for the info!

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

It looks like he's the founder of BashSquare from his profiles, I found his website. https://ahmedbashbash.github.io/ Looks like it has contact information, you could possibly ask clarifying questions if you wanted to.

I'm pretty certain it's not some kind of Israeli honeypot or something like that. They've also done a few donation drives in the past.

The barcodes themselves provide the information for the business the product is from, at least most of them. There is also community input, where people can request a product be added if it is on the boycott list but they find the barcode not identifying it. They are also working on community additions to alternative products to boycotted ones, that should roll out in a future update

I know grapheneos does sandboxing which is really nice. You can also further isolate by setting up a new profile or using the private space, depending on what your threat level is. I just have it on my regular profile myself

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[–] ramenshaman@lemmy.world 42 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Could it not just be a website? Trying to minimize the number of apps on my phone.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 9 hours ago

Right? Why does everything need to be a goddamn app

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 3 points 20 hours ago

iirc you just have to memorize a few numbers at the start of the barcode

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Fuck Israel, genocidal scum!

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 3 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Stop right there, genocidal scum!

[–] JigglySackles@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

You've violated international law! Subject yourself to the ICC and pay your fine!

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 3 points 4 hours ago

[resist arrest]

"Then pay with your blood!"

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 18 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

ben and jerrys, original owners tried to fight UNILEVER on thier ice cream being sold in israel? unilever ovverulled them.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 9 hours ago

After Unilever apparently guaranteed not to interfere in their political activism when buying the brand. I believe they're currently in court about it

And both men are Jewish men who are supporters of Palestine.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 17 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Make sure you don’t have this app installed if passing through US Immigration.

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Just turn your phone off ffs. And use a strong passphrase.

If they ask, just say no. Encryption works.

[–] viking@infosec.pub 5 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

That's how you get turned away at the border. Happened already.

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[–] humble_boatsman@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Sorry NGnius already posted this but interested if you folks like exodus. Its pretty sweet.

I'm new to this but my app store uses exodus to rate privacy of apps. It rates this app at 6/10. You all trust or use exodus? Wouldnt use this app anyway as I agree it should be open sourced. Especially using camera to scan items.

Exodus privacy rating

[–] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 9 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

For my Canadian peeps, use Buy Beaver to boycott Israel AND US products.

Or whatever other shit-ass country you dont want to support.

[–] Tronn4@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago (1 children)
[–] 0x0@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 hours ago

I've bought beaver.

[–] JustJack23@slrpnk.net 8 points 1 day ago

Ah so cool, but is there an open source alternative?

[–] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It wasn't on my bingo card that

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Would make a come back but this time the Israel state doing the genocide.

I understand auch that many Israeli people are supporting it, but not all of them. It's a fucked up situation.

At the same time,, somehow the 'don't buy from the russian' doesn't seem to be very effective, so I can't see this working either.

[–] scott@lemmy.org 7 points 1 day ago

The BDS movement is based on the movement by the same name targeted at apartheid South Africa, which did have a significant impact in getting rid of the regime. That said the amount of money Americans are compelled legally to spend on Israel vastly outstrips any changes regular people could make in their daily lives so idk how effective it can be in this case. The American empire seems inextricably tied to Israeli dominance these days.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It is more of symbolic message than actual pain for the gencoiders like israel and Russia

If people actually stick to it, long term it would have economic impact IMHO

[–] NGnius@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago (3 children)

The Canadian movement to not buy from the USA is already showing some economic impact (though it's hard to see through all of the other self-inflicted economic problems the USA has caused). It doesn't even take that much time to have a real economic impact.

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[–] entwine413@lemm.ee 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I wouldn't install it in the US, since boycotting Israel is apparently antisemitic. Especially not if you're not a full fledged citizen.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 day ago

I’m a citizen and I have it installed. Agree that visiting guests shouldn’t have it for safety.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago
[–] Maximumbird@lemm.ee 5 points 19 hours ago

The company I work for uses tons of tools from a company by the name “ISCAR” which I recently learned means “Israelian carbide”

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 4 points 1 day ago

Your emails and download details have now been passed to the IDF.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 4 points 20 hours ago

This is useful information. Thank you.

[–] match@pawb.social 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

In Texas, government organizations not only can't divest from Israel, but also can't award contracts to anyone who divest from Israel or speaks ill of it.

It's insane. When analyzing bids for janitorial services for City Hall a few weeks back, I was required to vett them for their stance on Israel.

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I wish there was an alternative for soda stream compatible gas tanks around me.

[–] CoachDom@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You could potentially save yourself some money and get yourself a food grade CO2 tank and refill the cartridges at home.

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

That seems like a bit too much for my personal use...

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 4 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Honestly, it's super easy and saves you a ton of money

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 16 hours ago

Alright then. I'll look into it. Thanks 😬

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 2 points 23 hours ago

Have you looked into DrinkMate?

[–] PostaL@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

What I do is have a ChatGPT conversation that I prompted so that when I tell it a brand name, it will answer with -

No need for more complications.

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