Friday, March 29

Tag: App ban

Pakistan unblock TikTok after it vows to moderate content
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Pakistan unblock TikTok after it vows to moderate content

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19, 2020: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority decided to unblock the video-sharing app TikTok after receiving assurance from Tiktok management to remove the vulgar content. The spokesperson of PTA said the TikTok management has assured the authority that it will block all accounts repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immorality and moderate content in accordance with local laws. The authority has not announced whether the app will be unblocked immediately. The authority had said at the time of the ban that the decision was made after it received complaints ‘against immoral/indecent content’ on the app. The PTA said it had issued a final notice to the app and gave considerable time to respond and develop and an effective mechanism for ‘proactive moder...
TikTok Ban will Hit Parent Firm ByteDance’s $1 Billion Expansion Plan
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TikTok Ban will Hit Parent Firm ByteDance’s $1 Billion Expansion Plan

New Delhi, 30th June 2020: A ban on 59 Chinese apps including Tiktok by the Indian government over security issues derailed Chinese company ByteDance $1 billion India expansion plan. Tiktok app is owned by its parent firm ByteDance was removed from Google and Apple app stores in India after the Indian government announced on Monday that it was among the 59 apps which it believed posed a "threat to sovereignty and integrity". "If this is not rolled back, these companies would be constrained to cut back their operations in India, potentially resulting in a loss of employment," said a lawyer who advises a Chinese company whose app has been banned. China's foreign ministry said it was "strongly concerned" about India's decision, adding that India had a "responsibility to uphold the l...
Google Under Pressure From China Remove Apps supporting Hongkong Protesters
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Google Under Pressure From China Remove Apps supporting Hongkong Protesters

Google removed a mobile game that let people play as a Hong Kong protester, saying it violated a policy against cashing in on conflicts. The move came after Apple removed an app criticized by China for allowing protesters in Hong Kong to track police. Finding out, Beijing steps up pressure on foreign companies deemed to be providing support to the pro-democracy movement. Google said its decision to yank "The Revolution of Our Times" game from its Play Store did not result from any takedown requests by police or any other party outside the California-based company. "We have a longstanding policy prohibiting developers from capitalizing on sensitive events such as attempting to make money from serious ongoing conflicts or tragedies through a game," Google said in response. "...
Google drops Healofy app from Play Store
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Google drops Healofy app from Play Store

Bengaluru based Healofy app was removed by Google for violation of its developer policy. The exact violation of Play Store policy is not revealed by the company. The app of Healofy has now been unavailable for over 72 hours from Google Play store. Healofy is a social networking app focused on pregnancy and parenting had raised over $11 million from investors. Google in its response said any violation of its developer policies invites such action. But according to industry insiders like entrepreneurs and app developers, removing an app from play store is a very harsh step for policy violation.  “Our users are the core of our product and we take user privacy and data very seriously. We are working with Google, who have been very cooperative, towards reinstating the app o...
Uber Android App Banned in Italy
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Uber Android App Banned in Italy

An Italian court has banned the use of smartphone apps for the ride-hailing group Uber, saying they contribute to traditional taxis facing unfair competition, local media reported. In a ruling that is subject to appeal, a court in Rome yesterday upheld a complaint filed by taxi unions and gave Uber ten days to end the use of various phone applications on Italian territory, along with the promotion and advertising of them. If Uber does not comply it could face a fine of 10,000 euros for each day it remains in defiance of the court. Uber said it was shocked by the ruling and that it would appeal immediately, seeking suspension of the ruling. The court's ruling follows a decision by a court in Milan two years ago to ban the company's UberPop application, which was deemed under Ita...