Petr Škuta Hong Kong has been struggling for several weeks in waves of protests against the Chinese regime. Demonstrators use modern technology, including smartphones, to organize their fight for freedom. But the Chinese government didn't like that, and it even stepped on a company like Apple.
In recent days, two applications have disappeared from the Chinese App Store. The first one was a bit controversial in itself. HKmap.live allowed you to monitor the current position of police units. Standard intervention units were distinguished on the map, but also heavy equipment including water cannons. The map was also able to indicate safe places where the demonstrators could retreat.
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Amaya Toman The second app that disappeared from the App Store there was Quartz. It was live reporting directly from the field, not only in the form of texts, but of course also in videos and audio recordings. At the request of the Chinese government, this app was also soon pulled from the store.
An Apple spokesperson commented on the situation as follows:
"The app displayed the location of police units. In cooperation with the Hong Kong Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau, we discovered that the app is being used for targeted attacks on the police, endangering public safety, and being misused by criminals to locate unpoliced areas and threaten residents. This app violates our rules and local laws."
Society's moral values in conflict with app downloads
Apple thus joins the list of corporations that comply with the regulations and "requests" of the Chinese government. The company has a lot at stake in this, so the declared moral principles seem to go by the wayside.
The Chinese market is the third largest for Apple in the world and the sales volume is around 32,5 billion dollars, including Taiwan and the problematic Hong Kong. Apple's stock is often dependent on how well it sells in China. Last but not least, she is perfect most of the company's production capacities are located in the interior of the country.
While the reasons for downloading the HKmap.live app can still be defended and understood, downloading the news app Quartz is no longer so clear-cut. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment on the app's removal from the App Store.
Apple is now on the edge. It is among the richest and most influential companies in the world, which is why all its steps are closely watched not only by the public. At the same time, the company has long been trying to build an image that is based on equality, tolerance and environmental protection. The Hong Kong affair may still have an unexpected impact.
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David Hanak Source: NYT
When China takes over, Apple will remove apps monitoring the situation in HK. When Russia is in command, Apple Maps will sanctify the occupation of Crimea (something even big brother Google has not tried).
And then Apple's head chef has a mouth full of moralistic bullshit?
He buried Apple.