William Gallagher
Imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny says Apple and Google acted as accomplices of Russian president Putin when they gave in to demands and removed a voting app ahead of the country's elections.
Both Apple and Google removed the app "Smart Voting" from their App Stores hours ahead of the Russian election, and did so at the insistence of the country's government.
Russia's Roskomnadzor (RKN) watchdog alleged that the app was being used to promote extremist activity of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). The app was devised by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, currently imprisoned, and he has now commented publicly on Twitter.
Thread.
— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) September 23, 2021
(1/14) If something surprised me in the latest elections, it was not how Putin forged the results, but how obediently the almighty Big Tech turned into his accomplices.
In a long series of tweets, Navalny accused Big Tech firms of capitulating.
"The giants Apple and Google have complied with the Kremlin's demands and removed our app from their stores," he wrote. "My beloved YouTube has deleted our video, and the Telegram messenger has blocked our bot."
"I know that most of those who work at Google, Apple, etc. are honest and good people," he continued. "I urge them not to put up with the cowardice of their bosses."
According to the New York Times, Russia's election saw the incumbent governing party retain a two-thirds majority in its lower house of Parliament.
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40 Comments
Apple and Google obeying governments is not surprising me: they usually comply to local legislation. But Telegram also blocking a service does indeed surprise me, since they take pride in being independent…
wonder what their rationale is…
's not like they had a choice.
I don't blame Apple for removing it, but I do blame them for creating an environment where they are the sole gatekeepers of app functionality, which enables this kind of censorship. And then removing it.
You risk getting blood on your hands when profit is your overriding criteria. I’m not proud of Apple.