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.
Alexei Navalny | Image Credit: Evgeny Feldman / Novaya Gazeta
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.