Apple pulls Hong Kong app used by protesters after China warning

Apple on Thursday removed an app criticised by China for allowing protestors in Hong Kong to track police, as Beijing steps up pressure on foreign companies deemed to be providing support to the pro-democracy movement.

The tech giant's pulling of HKmap.live was blasted as bowing to China and comes as high-profile brands, including the NBA and its Houston Rockets franchise, come under pressure from communist authorities over perceived support for democracy demonstrations in the financial hub.

Chinese state media this week tore into the app, which collates information on police locations submitted by users, charging that it was helping "rioters".

Communist Party mouthpiece The People's Daily said by stocking the app, Apple was "mixing business with politics, and even illegal acts".

On Thursday the app was no longer available on Apple's Hong Kong App Store.

"We have verified with the Hong Kong Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau that the app has been used to target and ambush police," said a notification sent by Apple and published on the HKmap.live's Telegram channel, which has more than 70,000 subscribers.

"Criminals have used it to victimise residents in areas where they know there is no law enforcement," it continued.

HKmap.live's makers denied their app encouraged criminal activity, and lashed out at Apple's removal as "censorship" and "clearly a political decision to suppress freedom".

The online and Android versions of HKmap.live were still available.

Hong Kong has been rocked by four months of increasingly violent protests, initially against a now-shelved extradition law, but whose focus has now shifted to broader pro-democracy aims.

The city's once-respected police force has become the target of anger over what demonstrators say is excessive violence, that has included the use of live rounds to quell unrest.

Hong Kongers took to social media to protest the removal.

"Many people are scared of police using tear gas and rubber bullets, so they use the app and make detours to avoid the uncontrolled police thugs," Pro-democracy lawmaker Charles Mok wrote on Facebook.

"Does Apple know it has the function to protect personal safety?"
And a user on the Reddit-like forum LIHKG said: "The app actually tells people where not to go. It ensures residents' safety."