In an about-face, Apple removes Hong Kong protest map app following China backlash
- The app had shot to the top of the charts for the travel category in the iOS App Store in Hong Kong
- Google yanked from its own apps store The Revolution of Our Times game, which lets people play as a Hong Kong protester
Apple on Thursday removed from its App Store a Hong Kong location map app that tracks protests activities following a backlash from China, in an about-face after it first gave approval to the app last week.
Despite those actions, users can still access the web version of HKmap.live on their smartphones by opening its webpage on their browser. The app also remains available on Google Play for Android smartphone users.
Apple said the HKmap.live app, which crowdsources locations of police and anti-government protesters in the city, violated its rules as it was used to target and ambush police, victimise residents and threaten public safety.
“We have learned that an app, HKmap.live, has been used in ways that endanger law enforcement and residents in Hong Kong,” Apple said in a statement. “This app violates our guidelines and local laws, and we have removed it from the App Store.”