An email from Tim Cook leaked, justifying the removal of the app HKmap.live

© Apple

The CEO. Apple, Tim Cook, spoke internally to explain why the company decided to remove the HKmap.live app from the App Store. According to the leader, the latter, through information on the positions of the Hong Kong police, would have allowed abuses and violence against individuals.

This week, Apple has sparked controversy with its decision to remove from the App Store an application used by protesters in Hong Kong. HKmap.live made it possible to locate police forces, thanks to information provided by the community. The company's decision was strongly criticized, prompting Tim Cook to speak in front of his employees.

Assaults alleged against police and citizens

In an email addressed to all employees of the company, and that the site The Verge was able to get, the P.-D.G. explains that this decision was the best for " protect our users ". And that it is out of respect for the work you do every day That the leader wished to justify himself internally.

According to Cook, HKmap.live was not a threat in essence, as the information that was shared was referred to as " benign ". However, he recalls that technology can be used for good or for bad ". In this case, the "evil" would be the use of the application for purposes of violence.

The leader says that Apple has been told by the Hong Kong police services specializing in cybersecurity and by local users that some are using the tool in a malicious way. They would have taken advantage of the location of the police for " attacking isolated police officers " or for " attacking individuals or private property in areas where police were absent ".

As a result, HKmap.live violated both Hong Kong laws and the rules of the App Store, which led to its withdrawal.

Arguments that do not hold, according to the developers

However, Tim Cook does not provide any specific examples of misuse of the application. The reasons invoked by the boss of Apple have actually jumped developers of the tool, which rejected the block arguments cited in the mail. On Twitter, they claimed that there was absolutely no evidence of HKmap.live being used for criminal purposes, that the published information came only from users and from public sources and that they were, moreover, subject of moderation.
Finally, they indicate that the application was mainly known for " improve public safety, not the other way around ". As a result, the creators of the tool claim to be now convinced that its withdrawal boils down to a political decision to suppress freedom and human rights in Hong Kong ".
Source: The Verge