Apple chief Tim Cook defends decision to pull Hong Kong mapping app saying it was being used to target police
- Tech giant’s boss defends decision to remove app from store – but it remains available on website and for Android users
- Firm is accused of bowing to China’s demands as makers insist the app used to track police movements has been ‘censored’
A mobile phone app that allows people to track the locations of Hong Kong police can still be widely used by Apple users despite removing it from its app store.
In a leaked memo to Apple staff, chief executive Tim Cook defended the removal of the HKmap.live app, which crowd sources police locations around Hong Kong, saying it was being used “maliciously” to target police officers and commit vandalism.
“National and international debates will outlive us all, and, while important, they do not govern the facts. In this case, we thoroughly reviewed them, and we believe this decision best protects our users,” Cook said in the memo.
“Over the past several days we received credible information, from the Hong Kong Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau, as well as from users in Hong Kong, that the app was being used maliciously to target individual officers for violence and to victimise individuals and property where no police are present.”
Apple’s decision was widely criticised and prompted accusations it was bowing to demands by the Chinese government to protect its business interests on the mainland.