Police Location App Used By Hong Kong Protesters Deleted

Apple has removed an app that protesters in Hong Kong have used to track police movements and tear gas use, saying the app violated its rules. The company said the app, HKmap.live, had "been used in ways that endanger law enforcement and residents". 

China’s state media had accused Apple of endorsing and protecting “rioters” in Hong Kong’s increasingly violent protests by listing an app on its app store that tracks the movement of police in the city. The condemnation, by the People’s Daily, a Chinese Communist party mouthpiece, appears to be China’s latest move to pressure foreign companies to toe the line. 

The app HKmap.live, which crowd-sources the location of police and anti-government protesters, was approved by Apple on 4 October and went on its App Store a day later. 

The app displays hotspots on a map of the city that is continuously updated as users report incidents, hence allowing protesters to avoid police.

The headline of the People’s Daily commentary carried by its official microblog on Wednesday 9th October said: “Protecting rioters – Has Apple thought clearly about this?.... Allowing the ‘poisonous’ app to flourish is a betrayal of the Chinese people’s feelings.”

The HKmap.live is reportedly the most downloaded app under the travel category in the iOS App Store for Hong Kong. Without specifically naming the app, the People’s Daily commentary said it allowed “Hong Kong rioters to openly commit crime while openly escaping arrests”. 

It said Apple’s approval of the app made it an “accomplice” in the protests because it “blatantly protects and endorses the rioters”. It questioned what the company’s intentions were.

It also criticised Apple for allowing Glory to Hong Kong, an unofficial anthem frequently sung by protesters during the ongoing anti-government movement, to be available for download in the Apple music store.

Peoples Daily:     Straits Times:        Guardian:            BBC:    

You Might Also Read: 

The Apps That Map Violence:

 

« USA and Britain Agree To Share Crime Data
Google Creates Video Tools To Fight Deepfakes »

ManageEngine
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

Directory of Cyber Security Suppliers

Directory of Cyber Security Suppliers

Our Supplier Directory lists 8,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

K7 Computing

K7 Computing

K7 provides antivirus and internet security products for business and home users.

StoneFly

StoneFly

StoneFly offers High Availability, high performance cluster and scale out storage, and backup and disaster recovery appliances.

Cyber Exec

Cyber Exec

Cyber Exec is an executive search firm dedicated to global talent acquisition in Cyber Security, Information Technology, Defense...

Cyber Future Foundation (CFF)

Cyber Future Foundation (CFF)

CFF was established to create a cyberspace where digital commerce and innovation can thrive based on trust and respect to individual privacy.

Lacework

Lacework

Lacework brings speed, scale, and automation to cloud security and allows security and DevOps teams to collaborate on keeping data and applications safe.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear

TunnelBear is a Virtual Private Network services provider offering secure encrypted access to the internet.

Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas are a world leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification. We provide certification and training services in areas including cybersecurity and data protection.

EUROCONTROL

EUROCONTROL

EUROCONTROL is a pan-European, civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation. We help our stakeholders protect themselves against cyber threats.

Raqmiyat

Raqmiyat

Raqmiyat provides end-to-end IT Services and business solutions including consultancy, digital transformation, infrastructure and cybersecurity.

ST Engineering Antycip

ST Engineering Antycip

ST Engineering Antycip (formerly Antycip Simulation) is Europe’s leading provider of professional grade COTS simulation software, projection & display systems, and related engineering services.

Stratus Technologies

Stratus Technologies

Edge Computing solves the inherent challenges of bandwidth, latency, and security at edge locations to enable IIoT devices and data acquisition.

CCX Technologies

CCX Technologies

CCX Technologies design and develop a wide range of cybersecurity and testing solutions for the aviation, and military and government markets.

Minorities in Cybersecurity (MiC)

Minorities in Cybersecurity (MiC)

MiC was developed out of a unique passion to help fill the gap that exists in the support and development of women and minority leaders in the cybersecurity field.

Siometrix

Siometrix

Siometrix addresses digital identity fraud. It steals your attacker's time and prevents many prevalent attack vectors.

Tausight

Tausight

Tausight is an AI-Powered patient data security startup with a mission of reducing healthcare cyber incidents using a more proactive, risk management philosophy.

AI or Not

AI or Not

AI or Not - Leverage AI to combat misinformation and elevate the landscape of compliance solutions.