Apple removes independent media app from Russian App Store

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iOS edited 2:36PM

Apple has removed the Current Time app from the Russian version of its App Store, telling its developer that local authorities say it contains "undesirable" content.

The App Store is a powerful digital ecosystem.
The App Store is a powerful digital ecosystem.



Current Time is an independent Russian-language media service and website run by Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). It was removed at the insistence of Roskomnadzor, the Russian media regulatory agency. According to RFE/RL, Apple informed the developer that the agency says the app contained illegal content, as well as materials from an "undesirable" organization.

RFE/RL runs independently, and is funded by a grant from the US Agency for Global Media. The US agency sets up broadcasting via radio and television aimed at countries that restrict independent media reporting, including some 23 countries.

The removal of the app follows how Current Time over-the-air broadcasts were suspended in Russia after the government there leveraged its Federal Tax Service to threaten to bankrupt the organization. Consequently, the broadcasts were then only available via the app that has now been removed.

Russia's efforts to supress independent media have increased since it invaded Ukraine in 2022. Apple has responded to criticism of the removals by saying it has to operate within the laws of the countries it serves.



Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,714member
    Did Apple also remove the apps from people's iPhones, or do they get to keep the app if they already downloaded it?
  • Reply 2 of 8
    lam92103lam92103 Posts: 145member
    Great job Apple! Thanks to your efforts to make sure no sideloading is possible, now Russians have one less avenue to get unbiased content

    /s
    elijahg
  • Reply 3 of 8
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,536member
    22july2013 said:
    Did Apple also remove the apps from people's iPhones, or do they get to keep the app if they already downloaded it?
    Apple doesn't have that ability.
  • Reply 4 of 8
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,692member
    I would prefer the statement: “Apple has responded to criticism of the removals by saying it has to operate within the laws of the countries it decides to serve” followed by “and Russia is not a country that Apple has decided to serve.”

    Wishful thinking, but there are times when unfettered capitalism is not appropriate, imho, even when it involves a financial loss for shareholders. Actions are stronger than words. 
    Alex1N
  • Reply 5 of 8
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,228member
    I don't see the Current Time app in the U.S. store
  • Reply 6 of 8
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,608member
    lam92103 said:
    Great job Apple! Thanks to your efforts to make sure no sideloading is possible, now Russians have one less avenue to get unbiased content

    /s
    That wouldn’t help. All the government would have done would have been to ban side loading. It’s like Google leaving China. A great publicity stunt when it happened, but it accomplished,I shed nothing and I deed, made the problem there worse.

    companies have zero control over what a government does.
  • Reply 7 of 8
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,608member

    dewme said:
    I would prefer the statement: “Apple has responded to criticism of the removals by saying it has to operate within the laws of the countries it decides to serve” followed by “and Russia is not a country that Apple has decided to serve.”

    Wishful thinking, but there are times when unfettered capitalism is not appropriate, imho, even when it involves a financial loss for shareholders. Actions are stronger than words. 




    Well, it’s an interesting situation. Like most companies, they withdrew from Russia. That means that other than for the products smuggled into Russia, Apple is not selling there anymore. So they’re likely not making any money, assuming they’re not able to bill for services. If that’s true, I wonder why they would care about orders from the government there.
  • Reply 8 of 8
    davidwdavidw Posts: 2,106member
    dewme said:
    I would prefer the statement: “Apple has responded to criticism of the removals by saying it has to operate within the laws of the countries it decides to serve” followed by “and Russia is not a country that Apple has decided to serve.”

    Wishful thinking, but there are times when unfettered capitalism is not appropriate, imho, even when it involves a financial loss for shareholders. Actions are stronger than words. 





    Apple is primarily a hardware company and Apple have already stop selling their hardware in Russia. At least I don't recall Russia actually banning Apple from selling any of their hardware (in Russia).  It's because of US (G7) sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine.

    But for those Russians that purchased iPhones, iPads and Macs before Apple stopped selling them in Russia, Apple is still allowed to support them. So long as Russia (or US (G7) sanctions) do not ban Apple from doing this. And I'm assuming Russia can ban Apple from supporting their devices in Russia, if Apple do not follow the laws of the country. Thus rendering all Apple hardware, (specially iPhones and iPads), that are in Russia even more useless. It would be as easy as forcing Russian mobile telecoms stop supporting iPhones. 
Sign In or Register to comment.