Blue-light car icons indicate on the HKmap.live digital map where Hong Kong police are on their way. Users have provided the corresponding information, and the creators of the map rely on crowdsourcing. In Apple's App Store, "HKmap.live" has been available as an app for download since October 5 - which has led to the Chinese government criticizing the tech group.
The People's Daily (CPP) party newspaper on Wednesday accused Apple of supporting rioters by making it easier for protesters to engage in violent actions. "Apple's approval of the app helps the rioters, of course, what's the actual intent?" The paper wrote.
hkmap
Map of "HKmap.live"
At Apple Music, the company also offers a song that is open to Hong Kong's independence from China, they say. Nobody wants to drag the US company into the riots in the Special Administrative Region: "But people have reason to believe that Apple mixes business with politics and even illegal acts." Apple must "think about the consequences of his ill-advised and ruthless decision".
The app is not allowed
Apple had stood in response to criticism on the side of the demonstrators. The crowdsourcing app "HKmap.live" Apple initially did not allow in the App Store, as their anonymous developers wrote on Twitter. The company had then revised this decision but again and the app made available. According to a media report, "HKmap.live" in the Travel category in Hong Kong is the highest downloadable app.
"As the brutality and madness of the police on the streets of Hong Kong increases, I rely on this app to navigate the city when I need to go home or go to work," writes Kaoichen. in his rating on the App Store.
