Apple boss Tim Cook has defended his company\u2019s decision to comply with the Chinese government\u2019s demand it remove VPN software from the App Store.<\/p>\n
Virtual Private Networks are often used to skirt censorship and surveillance in countries with tight restrictions on internet use.<\/p>\n
The company has been heavily criticised for removing several VPN apps, and was accused of \u201caiding Chinese censorship efforts\u201d.<\/p>\n
Apple said it disagreed with China\u2019s position but had to comply with the country\u2019s laws.<\/p>\n
“We would obviously rather not remove the apps,\u201d Apple chief executive Tim Cook said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“But like we do in other countries we follow the law wherever we do business.<\/p>\n
Mr Cook said comparisons to a legal battle in the US last year – in which the firm refused to help the FBI unlock a dead terrorist’s iPhone – were unfair.<\/p>\n
“They\u2019re very different,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“In the case of the US, the law in the US supported us. I was very clear. In the case of China, the law is also very clear there. Like we would if the US changed the law here, we\u2019d have to abide by them in both cases.”<\/p>\n
Activists and indeed regular citizens in China have been finding ways to poke holes in the country\u2019s infamous Great Firewall of China which blocks \u201cquestionable\u201d content and is heavily monitored.<\/p>\n
To operate a VPN service in the country, companies must be authorised by the Chinese authorities.<\/p>\n
Apple sales boosted by services growth<\/p>\n
Those without permission, such as ExpressVPN, have been singled out for removal from Apple\u2019s App Store.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re disappointed in this development, as it represents the most drastic measure the Chinese government has taken to block the use of VPNs to date,\u201d said\u00a0ExpressVPN in a blog post.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are troubled to see Apple aiding China\u2019s censorship efforts. ExpressVPN strongly condemns these measures, which threaten free speech and civil liberties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Cook said Apple stated its opposition to the removal through the \u201cappropriate\u201d channels.<\/p>\n
“We believe in engaging with governments even when we disagree,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“In this particular case, we are hopeful that over time the resections we\u2019re seeing are loosened, because innovation requires freedom to collaborate and communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Cook\u2019s remarks were made during the firm\u2019s quarterly earnings call. While the firm performed strongly in most of the world, it continues to struggle in China where revenues dropped 10% compared to this time last year.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Apple boss Tim Cook has defended his company\u2019s decision to comply with the Chinese government\u2019s demand it remove VPN software from the App Store. Virtual Private Networks are often used to skirt censorship and surveillance in countries with tight restrictions on internet use. The company has been heavily criticised for removing several VPN apps, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[106],"tags":[139,9796,9797,9770],"yoast_head":"\n