Add another company to those disassociating themselves from WikiLeaks: Apple. Today, the technology giant removed an iPhone and iPad app from the App Store that allowed users to check out content from the WikiLeaks site as well as follow its Twitter account.
According to The New York Times, Apple’s reasoning for nixing the app was as follows: “Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, said the company had removed the app ‘because it violated our developer guidelines.’ Ms. Muller added: ‘Apps must comply with all local laws and may not put an individual or group in harm’s way.’”
Apparently, the WikiLeaks content itself was more of an issue to Apple than the fact that the app — created by developer Igor Barinov — was unofficial and charged users $1.99 for content that’s readily available for free elsewhere.
The move makes sense given both WikiLeaks’ and Apple’s track records. WikiLeaks has been the victim of DDoS attacks ever since it started releasing secret embassy cables, and several U.S.-based web companies, including Amazon, PayPal, and its DNS service provider, EveryDNS.net, have denied WikiLeaks service. Bank of America was the most recent company to take an anti-WikiLeaks stand. The site is now functioning mostly as a series of mirrors set up by sympathizers around the globe, but it’s still releasing new secret cables on a daily basis.
Apple, for its part, is known for the strict limitations it puts on developers who sell apps in its store. On-demand music service Grooveshark was pulled from the store amid record label complaints, Esquire’s November issue (featuring revealing pictures of “sexiest woman alive” Minka Kelly) was barred from the store for a spell for being too sexy, and a Pulitzer Prize winner’s satirical app was similarly rejected.
What do you think of WikiLeaks getting the heave-ho?
According to The New York Times, Apple’s reasoning for nixing the app was as follows: “Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, said the company had removed the app ‘because it violated our developer guidelines.’ Ms. Muller added: ‘Apps must comply with all local laws and may not put an individual or group in harm’s way.’”
Apparently, the WikiLeaks content itself was more of an issue to Apple than the fact that the app — created by developer Igor Barinov — was unofficial and charged users $1.99 for content that’s readily available for free elsewhere.
The move makes sense given both WikiLeaks’ and Apple’s track records. WikiLeaks has been the victim of DDoS attacks ever since it started releasing secret embassy cables, and several U.S.-based web companies, including Amazon, PayPal, and its DNS service provider, EveryDNS.net, have denied WikiLeaks service. Bank of America was the most recent company to take an anti-WikiLeaks stand. The site is now functioning mostly as a series of mirrors set up by sympathizers around the globe, but it’s still releasing new secret cables on a daily basis.
Apple, for its part, is known for the strict limitations it puts on developers who sell apps in its store. On-demand music service Grooveshark was pulled from the store amid record label complaints, Esquire’s November issue (featuring revealing pictures of “sexiest woman alive” Minka Kelly) was barred from the store for a spell for being too sexy, and a Pulitzer Prize winner’s satirical app was similarly rejected.
What do you think of WikiLeaks getting the heave-ho?