Apple allows Hong Kong protest map app that can track police and protester locations

Apple has allowed a Hong Kong location map that tracks protest activities to go on its App Store, reversing an earlier decision to reject the submission.

HKmap.live, an app that crowdsources the location of police and anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, received approval from Apple on October 4 and was made available for download on October 5, according to the developer, who declined to give his or her name when contacted via Twitter, citing concerns of arrest by the government.

A check showed HKmap.live is the most downloaded app under the travel category in the iOS App Store for Hong Kong. The app has attracted both positive and negative reviews, with one user calling it “life saving technology” while another said the app supported lawbreaking and put “citizens in danger”.

Hong Kong has seen months of street demonstrations and increasing violence triggered by the government’s now-abandoned extradition bill. Clashes between riot police and protesters have led to accusations of police brutality, with radicals looting, trashing and burning shops, bank outlets and MTR stations.

Apple initially turned down the developer’s application to list HKmap.live on its App Store because it “contains content – or facilitates, enables and encourages an activity – that is not legal” and “allowed users to evade law enforcement”, according to the developer, who cited Apple’s rejection notice in a tweet last week. The developer said in a subsequent tweet that the app was used for information and “does not encourage illegal activity”.