CHINA CRISIS? >
The political pressure is not just focused on market rules though. Apple has also faced criticism for its dependence on China when it comes to manufacturing and its closeness to officials who are part of the country’s
authoritarian regime. Tim Cook himself is essential to these dynamics, according to reporting by The Information. The company would no doubt highlight how it is trying to diversify where it manufactures it products, so it is less reliant on China.
Benjamin Ismail, the director of the AppleCensorship project run by GreatFire, an organisation that monitors and challenges internet censorship in China, told MacFormat: “Apple continues to censor apps in its App Stores for political reasons and we continue to uncover instances of apps (VPNs, LGBTQ+ related apps, religious apps, etc.) being removed from App Stores.”
He added that, “China’s App Store remains the most censored App Store.” Among other things, AppleCensorship has recorded multiple Bible apps being removed from it. “App takedowns from Apple’s App Stores are just one example of the well-documented censorship policies resulting from Apple’s relationship with Beijing. Those policies also include censorship of media, design, emojis, engravings, and more,” Ismail said.