Google, Apple ax Navalny team’s voting app
MOSCOW — Apple and Google removed an app meant to coordinate protest voting in this weekend’s Russian elections from the country Friday, a blow to the opponents of President Vladimir Putin and a display of Silicon Valley’s limits when it comes to resisting crackdowns on dissent around the world.
The decisions came after Russian authorities, who claim the app is illegal, threatened to prosecute local employees of Apple and Google — a sharp escalation in the Kremlin’s campaign to rein in the country’s largely uncensored internet. A person familiar with Google’s decision said authorities had named people who would face prosecution, prompting it to remove the app.
Apple didn’t respond to calls, emails or text messages seeking comment.
The app was created and promoted by allies of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who were hoping to use it to consolidate the protest vote in each of Russia’s 225 electoral districts. It disappeared from the two technology platforms just as voting got underway in the three-day parliamentary election in which Putin’s United Russia party — in a carefully stage-managed system — holds a commanding advantage.
Navalny’s team reacted with outrage to the decision, suggesting the companies had made a damaging concession to the Kremlin.
The decisions also drew criticism from free-speech activists in the West.
Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, argued that the app was illegal in Russia, where Navalny’s movement was outlawed as extremist this summer.
“Both platforms have been notified, and in accordance with the law, they made these decisions,” he said.