Update (written on 10/9/2019):
Apple has similar a shot approved the HKmap.live application. Reportedly it has chop-chop popular off the best selling app inwards Hong Kong. The People's Daily paper is non happy amongst the decision. It has called the blessing of HKmap.live every bit "unwise" as well as "imprudent". The paper has likewise ominously warned that the conclusion would "draw to a greater extent than turbulence", which suggests that Apple's interests inwards PRC could potentially come upwards nether threat.
Update to the Update (written on 10/10/2019):
Apple has i time once to a greater extent than bowed to pressure level from the Chinese regime as well as has i time once to a greater extent than banned the HKmap.live application. Apple says that "the app has been used to ... victimize residents inwards areas where they know at that topographic point is no law enforcement". Obviously Apple has no agency of knowing if this is truthful or non as well as must conduct keep been told that this is the example yesteryear the Chinese authorities. The Chinese authorities conduct keep their ain reasons for wanting to terminate Hong Kong residents from using HKmap.live. We tin solely gauge at why Apple has taken this motion to hamper pro-democracy protests inwards Hong Kong.
The next was written on 10/2/2019 (after Apple initially refused blessing to HKmap.live):
Apple has banned an application which helps people inwards Hong Kong comply amongst constabulary restrictions. By banning the HKmap.live interactive map Apple are denying assist to citizens who want to avoid locations inwards Hong Kong that are currently experiencing unsafe clashes betwixt the constabulary as well as pro-democracy demonstrators.
"Your app contains content - or facilitates, enables, as well as encourages an activeness - that is non legal ... Specifically, the app allowed users to evade law enforcement."@Apple assume our user are lawbreakers as well as thus evading law enforcement, which is clearly non the case.— HKmap.live 全港抗爭即時地圖 (@hkmaplive) October 1, 2019
HKmap.live is a crowdsourced map which reports the alive set of the constabulary inwards Hong Kong. On the map dissimilar emojis are used to exhibit the place of the constabulary across the city. Registered users tin role the Telegram messaging application to written report locations where the constabulary are currently using violence against protesters. The application is used widely yesteryear Hong Kong residents who want to avoid inadvertently wandering into fierce situations.
Last nighttime 104 people were hospitalized yesteryear the Hong Kong police. The HKmap.live map tin assist citizens inwards Hong Kong from accidentally wandering into areas which conduct keep been flagged yesteryear the constabulary for illegal assembly. The map likewise provides warnings close such things every bit the constabulary firing tear gas inwards residential areas.
I'm certain Apple produce non desire Hong Kong residents to accidentally wander into fierce situations as well as that they conduct keep non banned this map because they attention to a greater extent than close losing line concern inwards PRC than the security of innocent people. Presumably this is simply an innocent fault yesteryear Apple as well as the conclusion volition presently live on reversed.
