Apple bans Hong Kong protesters’ police locator app
US tech company accused of bowing to Chinese state pressure over smartphone software used during riots
APPLE has bowed to Chinese state censors and removed an app used by prodemocracy protesters to track police in Hong Kong.
The decision has plunged the American company deep into the sensitive politics of one of its most crucial markets. It had prevaricated for days over whether to allow the app, Hkmap.live, a utility launched in August to display real-time information about the location of water cannons and riot police.
The app showed a street map of Hong Kong, displaying emojis to communicate information; a dog for police, a speech bubble for teargas and a dinosaur for the Raptors, a specialist tactical squad. After initially rejecting the app, Apple allowed it to reappear. It finally enforced a ban yesterday after Chinese state media accused the company of aiding rioters with “poisonous software”.
Apple justified its decision by saying Hong Kong Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau had reported that protesters were using it to attack police.
“The app has been used to target and ambush police, threaten public safety and criminals have used it to victimise residents in areas where they know there is no law enforcement. This app violates our guidelines and local laws,” said Apple. On a Twitter account the app’s creators rejected Apple’s claims, saying it had “zero evidence” to back them. The app, also available on Android phones, was a valuable tool for ordinary citizens to avoid danger after four months of clashes in residential and shopping districts, they argued.
“Hkmap is used by passers-by, protesters, journalists, tourists and even pro-government supporters,” they stated.
The Chinese market is of great importance to Apple as the firm battles faltering demand for its smartphones. China is its third largest market, bringing in £36billion last year. But as the Hong Kong anti-government protests enter their fifth month amid escalating violence, Apple joins a growing list of businesses forced to choose sides as they navigate the political crises engulfing the financial hub.
Other US brands have also been accused of bowing to Chinese state pressure. This week, Chinese firms severed ties with the US National Basketball Association after the manager of the Houston Rockets retweeted an image captioned: “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.” The controversy has focused US attention on the issue of Chinese censorship. Sports fans were upset when “Free Hong Kong” and “Google: Uighurs” signs were confiscated before a basketball match in Washington DC on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Blizzard Entertainment, a US video game firm, faced a backlash from fans after it punished a Hong Kong-based e-sports star who had voiced support for the Hong Kong protests during a competition in Taiwan.