It appears that Apple has rejected an app that warns Hong Kongers about police activity. The Hong Kong police force shot a high schooler in the chest yesterday and put seventy people, from 11 to 75, in the hospital. That app saves lives in Hong Kong. Let me tweet about it a bit https://t.co/APsQK6XRsP

— Pinboard (@Pinboard) October 2, 2019

So in a whole bunch of scenarios, HKMAP helps residents comply with the wishes of law enforcement (who communicate their demands by colored flags quickly raised in the dark). Apple's stated rationale makes no sense and I believe they are simply lying to avoid angering China

— Pinboard (@Pinboard) October 2, 2019

https://t.co/MHbdprPAXM is a crowdsourced map that consolidates reports from people on Telegram. Here's a screenshot from last night's protests. You can see MTR closures (red circle with slash), police patrols (puppy), police cars, known safe places (house icon) and more pic.twitter.com/B6UuLJmZCi

— Pinboard (@Pinboard) October 2, 2019

This is a good, detailed thread on why @Apple's "encouraging illegal activity" excuse for rejecting a Hong Kong map app is nonsense. If anything, it's the kind of app that allows people to comply with police orders and/or staying safe. https://t.co/kJEzsKlAza

— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 2, 2019

Apple rejects a map that only displays Hong Kong locations as illegal? Maybe this really is Apple sucking up to China rather than f bureaucratic screw-up? @HKmaplive only reports locations: road closures, tear gas, police presence. IT REPORTS LOCATIONS AND DOES NOTHING ELSE. https://t.co/xwt4OJ1jaV

— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 2, 2019

Meanwhile, Waze lets user track police activity to avoid tickets, and it's not banned from the App Store https://t.co/dQblZKReNL

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) October 3, 2019

"Your app contains content - or facilitates, enables, and encourages an activity - that is not legal ... Specifically, the app allowed users to evade law enforcement."@Apple assume our user are lawbreakers and therefore evading law enforcement, which is clearly not the case.

— HKmap.live 全港抗爭即時地圖 (@hkmaplive) October 1, 2019

On behalf of tech people in America, I would like to apologize to the people of Hong Kong for this humiliating display by our biggest tech company. These are not the fundamental American values you have in mind when you wave our flag at your protests, and we must do better

— Pinboard (@Pinboard) October 2, 2019

The map warns you in real time of things like tear gas being fired in residential neighborhoods. It warns of police presence because cops are arbitrarily arresting young people for things like wearing the wrong color t-shirt. It helps people find a way home when the MTR is closed

— Pinboard (@Pinboard) October 2, 2019

Again @Apple complicit with state oppression because it benefits their shareholders. Don’t think @Google are any better though. https://t.co/awrlHaY0Gp

— ?????? ??? ??????? ⚫️ (@PrettyHatMech) October 3, 2019

To deny the people of Hong Kong one of the few tools that defends them against police aggression is such a craven act that I can't even put it into words. Is Apple going to side with "law enforcement" in every dictatorship on the planet? Is coddling China worth that much to them?

— Pinboard (@Pinboard) October 2, 2019

This is getting way more feedback than I expected. To make it clear, I still believe this is more a bureaucratic f up than censorship.

Everything can be used for illegal purpose on the wrong hand. Our App is for info, and we do not encourage illegal activity.

— HKmap.live 全港抗爭即時地圖 (@hkmaplive) October 2, 2019

Here's Apple being caught between a rock and a hard place https://t.co/2eINatIQgH

— Catalin Cimpanu (@campuscodi) October 3, 2019

This makes absolutely no sense from Apple (as presented at least). E2E messaging apps absolutely “facilitate activity that is not legal” and “allow users to evade law enforcement”. Loads of apps do! My guess is this flows from government relations convos, not rational analysis https://t.co/hk1CE5jtUj

— hal ? (@halhod) October 2, 2019

Apple bans an app because Hong Kong protesters might use it to avoid the murderous, out of control police by @doctorow.https://t.co/yuhRphtaHG

— Criptext (@Criptext) October 3, 2019

Apple bans app that helps Hong Kong protesters avoid police. Because money is more important than freedom. https://t.co/rwVcGzUPgq

— Mike Elgan (@MikeElgan) October 3, 2019

Apple bans an app because Hong Kong protesters might use it to avoid the murderous, out of control policehttps://t.co/UGy6EXaNQG pic.twitter.com/oHMrLNn4Sv

— Masque of the Red Death (@doctorow) October 2, 2019

Cue 1984 Apple commercial, in reverse - Apple bans an app because Hong Kong protesters might use it to avoid the murderous, out of control police https://t.co/mGabBRloMB

— Mass. Pirate Party (@masspirates) October 2, 2019

Apple bans an app because Hong Kong protesters might use it to avoid the murderous, out of control police / Boing Boing https://t.co/Qf5Mc0NgzO

— Al Perez (@nmsaints87124) October 3, 2019

Because: Apple cares about its sales and profits from China. Its that simple. https://t.co/8PM7zXKV6b

— Sri Ray ? (@sricola) October 3, 2019

Shameful: Apple has banned an app used by democracy activists in Hong Kong https://t.co/k5UwXVEP8u

— Matthew Sheffield (@mattsheffield) October 3, 2019

アップル、香港でプロテストと警察の暴力がどこで行われているかをユーザー同士で共有できるアプリの流通を拒否、理由は違法な情報を公開しているため。あのヤク中の自然派バカでインドに行って勝手に絶望して返ってきたヒッピーなジョブズの会社がだいぶ偉くなったものだ。https://t.co/DhWS7coEQq

— Ryou Ezoe(江添 亮) (@EzoeRyou) October 3, 2019

Apple bans app that allows Hong Kong protestors keep track of protests and police activity because it ‘facilitates, enables, and encourages an activity - that is not legal... specifically… to evade law enforcement’: https://t.co/ONpDVsdJBg

— Kenan Malik (@kenanmalik) October 3, 2019

Apple has banned an app that allows people in #HongKong to keep track of protests and police activity in the city state, claiming such information is illegal. https://t.co/mhXlRtttFi

— Àlex Hinojo (@AlexHinojo) October 3, 2019

#Apple kowtows to #Beijing: Hong Kong protest safety app banned from iOS store https://t.co/8DrS7SHLoF via @theregister #HongKongProtests #HongKong #PRC #CCP #technology #iPhone #HongKongPolice #Trump #Shout4HK #CarrieLam

— Sam Pye (@freddie1999) October 3, 2019

Apple bans Hong Kong Protest Safety app from its App Store saying it 'promotes illegal activities'. This is why great power comes with great responsibility > https://t.co/3xRrQoeYPJ

— electronic max (@emax) October 3, 2019

Apple rejects Hong Kong map app for App Store https://t.co/coQeSKP9f4

— iMore (@iMore) October 3, 2019

Apple rejects Hong Kong maps app for App Store https://t.co/Z89qWMHR9N pic.twitter.com/85wMcVWWFM

— Ace Computer (@Acecomputer5) October 3, 2019

Apple apparently bans app that allowed Hong Kong protesters to track police movements https://t.co/o9vxdxzYgd

— ?Crispin Burke? (@CrispinBurke) October 3, 2019

Apple has reportedly banned an app that allows Hong Kong protestors to track protests and police movements in the city state, despite increasing international condemnation against the violence used by the authorities. https://t.co/fDfwirVbN5

— Boycott China Hegemony (@BoycottHegemony) October 3, 2019

This is terrible from Apple. Macrumors is a serious site so I assume it is not Fake News. https://t.co/UeEA2Cy2or

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) October 3, 2019

Apple Bans App That Allowed Hong Kong Protestors to Track Police Movements https://t.co/BNb9saVGbt Appleは香港のデモ隊が香港警察の動きを追跡するのに使っているアプリをApp Storeから排除

— yomoyomo (@yomoyomo) October 3, 2019