China rebukes Apple for an app that helps protesters in Hong Kong
China has threatened Apple with heavy sanctions in the country for aiding the protests in Hong Kong. An application that serves planning for protests has been reactivated.
Just one day after banning the HKmap app from its app store, Apple reinstated it to the delight of its developers. This has caused a wave of anger in the Chinese media. Official spokespersons for the Chinese Communist Party are angry that they believe the Hong Kong protests are supported.
On the one hand, criticizing NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's speech tirade over Houston Rocket general manager's tweet expressing support for protesters in Hong Kong.
The NBA commissioner's show of support for the now-deleted tweet comes on the heels of Apple reinstalling HKmap. It is a collaborative map for iOS used by protesters in Hong Kong. With it they mark live demonstrations, police presence and general altercations to avoid. It is one of the many tools they use, with Telegram being one of the most appealed by protesters.
This was apparently too much for China's state media, and the second piece of the People's Daily was aimed directly at Apple. While maintaining the civil tone, the article reflected on whether Apple is taking a political side by allowing the developers of the HKmap.live app to resubmit it a day after its ban became a major issue.
Threats for what they assume is a political position
However, the piece goes further, warning that "the maps app is just the tip of the iceberg." He claims that Apple has also allowed access to a hit Hong Kong protest song in its Music app.
Overall, China makes it clear that it is unhappy with any explicit or implicit support for the Hong Kong dispute. The government is willing to take action, either towards the NBA or Apple itself.
Source PhoneArena
