You might have probably heard about WikiLeaks by now. TechCrunch reports that Apple has removed the unofficial WikiLeaks application, which gave “instant access to the world’s most documented leakage of top secret memos and other confidential government documents”.
Igor Barinov, developer of the iPhone app has also confirmed that Apple has removed the application from the App Store as he has received an email stating that the status of his app has changed to “Removed From Sale”.
TechCrunch reports:
Basically the paid app was selling WikiLeaks content (available for free) for $1.99. Its entry into the app store on December 17th was actually surprising, as Apple is usually quite strict and somewhat vague about its app approval standards. WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange are quite controversial, to put it lightly but I'm not sure if the app directly violated anything in Apple's TOS. In the past couple of weeks corporate biggies Amazon, PayPal, Mastercard, Visa and Bank of America have all tried to disassociate themselves in one way or another from WikiLeaks. If this isn't some kind of glitch, Apple has plenty company.
Barinov claims that $1.00 from the sale of the WikiLeaks app was donated to WikiLeaks, which left him 40 cents (after deducting Apple’s share of the revenue).
According to the official response that Business Insider received, Apple has removed the iPhone app from the App Store due to the content. Business Insider reports:
We reached out to Apple for comment on why it pulled the app and here's what a representative told us: "We removed WikiLeaks because it violated developer guidelines. An app must comply with all local laws. It may not put an individual or target group in harms way."
Do you think Apple should have removed the WikiLeaks application from the App Store, especially since the information can be accessed using iPhone’s Safari browser?
[via TechCrunch, Business Insider]
What is the deal with wikileaks?
Well, the fact that you can access the content using Safari certainly obviates the need for an App that allows the same. Just use Safari and donate to WikiLeaks on your own, if you decide you want to.
I don’t see any problem with this.
I think Apple is Lame
Apple become a macdonalds to me)))
I downloaded this already and I think It’s pathetic. More industry p@@@@@s caving into the government. This is not a dictatorship. Apple is like communist Russia back in the old Soviet Union days. Morons should not approve a ap in the first place just to remove it.
I enjoy the user experience that Apple tries to provide. It requires an unusual amount of control to accomplish what Steve Jobs is doing. No system is without it’s problems, but overall I like working on a Mac and I love my iPhone.
I sometimes wish Apple would do things a little differently. Then I go play on my Windows or Ubuntu machine or fiddle with my Droid 2 over Wifi. But in the end, I prefer Apple—warts ‘n’ all.
Well, as I see it, it’s the user’s choice on whether or not to buy it if it’s available for free through another source.. But Apple will be Apple.
My first reaction was negative to Apple, but the guy who put out this app is trying to skim money off people for content he did nothing to generate. He doesn’t have any particular or unique rights to the content.
Even if I don’t like their reasoning, I agree with Apple’s decision.
It is like a reader or viewer. Not the first time. If you like to read the content directly from the website, you are free to do so. If you want to read it thru the reader, then your choice to pay for it. Some readers are free, some are not. Has nothing to do with ownership of the content.
Just another good reason too stay away from Apple.
Omegaman
Was the need to approve it in the first place?
The WikiLeaks is on Installous and it is working fine till today 23/12/10
This is the worlds Sectert!!!!
GUESS WHAT, EVEN IF THIS IS HAPPENING THEYRE STILL GOING TO COME UP WITH MORE HIDDEN INFO FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES AND PPL THAT KNOWS IT ARENT WORRIED ABOUT.
APPLE CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT CAUSE THEY ALLOWED IT AND SUDDENLY BANNED IT.
DROID PLATFORM MIGHT REPLACE IT THOUGH.