Removal Of Quran & Bible Apps In China Reveals Apple's Double Standards

China's well-documented crackdown on unregulated technology and Islam is now peaking. This week, Apple bent to China's will by removing one of the world's most popular Quran applications in the country.

Known as "Quran Majeed", the application is available globally on the Apple App Store, clocking in more than 150,000 reviews. But there's no room for religion in China, a reality more pronounced for Muslims than any other religious group in the country.

Reuters

China's anti-Muslim crackdown

Let's not forget that there is ample proof of China's concentration camps for Uighur Muslims in the Chinese province of Xinjiang. Numerous reports of human rights abuses including forced sterilisation and forced labour have surfaced from the region but not much has changed.

Reuters

The app's maker "PDMS" told the BBC that they were notified about the app's removal. Apparently, the app contains content which requires "additional documentation from Chinese authorities".

According to PDMS, the Quran app had over a million readers in China before being taken down. They're reportedly in touch with China's cyberspace administration to understand the ban.

Also read: Apple Will Monitor Your Mental Health From iPhone, Apple Watch Data In Future

Apple's hypocrisy in China

One of Apple's biggest markets is China, where most Apple devices are manufactured. A report by The New York Times highlighted how Apple complies with the requests of Chinese government, while resisting the same in other countries. According to the NYT report, Apple takes down all apps in China that talk about the Dalai Lama, Tibet and Taiwan's independence movements, Tiananmen Square and more.

Apple's human rights policy states the following - "We're required to comply with local laws, and at times there are complex issues about which we may disagree with governments."

Another religious app was targeted this week. Olive Tree's Bible app is no longer available in China. The company told BBC that they were asked to get authorisation for book content in mainland China.

Reuters

Also read: Chinese TikTok Limits Kids To Only 40 Minutes Of Use Per Day: Should India Follow?

Similarly, Amazon-owned Audible, the primary service for audiobooks also pulled out of China last month due to similar permit issues, The Mac Observer reported on Friday.

Phew! Too much? That's not all! Microsoft's LinkedIn was the recent major app to pull of the Chinese market. Microsoft claimed that it is finding it difficult to keep complying with the demands of the Chinese government.

What are your thoughts about Apple's double standards when it comes to censorship in China? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. For the latest in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

Citation

Clayton, B. J. (2021, October 15). Apple takes down Quran app in China. BBC News.

Nicas, J., Zhong, R., & Wakabayashi, D. (2021, June 17). Inside Apple¡¯s Compromises in China: A Times Investigation. The New York Times.