Apple Pulls HK Protester App After Beijing Warning

Apple has removed from its App Store an app popular with anti-government protesters that displays police locations, saying it violates their guidelines as well as local laws.

In a statement shared by the creators of the HKMap.live app, Apple says they had learned that the app “has been used in ways that endanger law enforcement and residents in Hong Kong.”

The statement said they have verified with the police’s Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau that the app had 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 use of your app has resulted in serious harm to these citizens,” the statement added.

The app’s developers said on their social media channels that they disagreed with the claims that their app endangers law enforcement and residents.

They said there is “zero evidence” to support the accusations leveled at it by the police’s Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau. They added it never “solicits, promotes or encourages criminal activity,” and moderators would delete user-generated content that did so.

The developers went on to say they believe the move is “clearly a political decision to suppress freedom and human rights in Hong Kong.” They said it was disappointing to see US companies such as Apple, the NBA, gaming company Blizzard Entertainment, and jeweller Tiffany & Co “act against freedom”.

The HKmap.live app was approved by Apple last week, after first being rejected by Apple over questions of its legality.

The decision provoked strong backlash on the mainland, with state media accusing Apple of supporting pro-democracy protesters and warning it could face consequences for its “unwise and reckless” decision.

An opinion in the People’s Daily said the app “obviously helps rioters”, and questioned if Apple intended to be an accomplice.

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