Apple on Wednesday removed popular podcast player Pocket Casts from the App Store in China. According to the app's developers, the removal of Pocket Casts was at the request of the country's Cyberspace Administration, which determined that the app could be used to access content regarded as illegal in China.
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"We believe podcasting is and should remain an open medium, free of government censorship," Pocket Casts said on its official Twitter account. "As such we won't be censoring podcast content at their request. We understand this means that it's unlikely that our iOS App will be available in China, but feel it's a necessary step to take for any company that values the open distribution model that makes podcasting special."
Pocket Casts' developers told The Verge that they asked Apple for details on which content violated Chinese law, but were told to contact the Cyberspace Administration of China for the specifics. The app was reportedly removed about two days after Apple contacted the developer.
China's Cyberspace Administration has been known to block access to sites and internet services it doesn't approve of. Blocked content typically includes criticism of the government or other politically sensitive issues. Last year Apple removed the app of news outlet Quartz from China's App Store after complaints from the government that it included content that is illegal in the country. The app was covering the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement protests at the time.
Pocket Casts has been removed from the Chinese App store by Apple, at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China. We believe podcasting is and should remain an open medium, free of government censorship. As such we won't be censoring podcast content at their request. — Pocket Casts (@pocketcasts) June 11, 2020
Apple has also been forced to remove many VPN apps from the App Store in China due to the administration's regulations. Other apps affected in the past or present include WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and the New York Times app.
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In 1930s Germany, it was the law that Jews should hand over their assets to the Nazi party and wear a yellow 'Juden' badge.Incoming tons of comments how Apple should stand above the law. Truth is, you have to obey the law of countries.
By your logic, it would be perfectly fine to have done business with them as it was the law in that country?
Actually, everyone was fine with doing business with Germany until they started to attack an ally. Some even made cringeworthy comments in support of it. Kind of like China now.In 1930s Germany, it was the law that Jews should hand over their assets to the Nazi party and wear a yellow 'Juden' badge.
By your logic, it would be perfectly fine to have done business with them as it was the law in that country?
It’s all starting to reminds me of Gilead in the Handmaids Tale books
Rinse. Repeat.