Apple is facing continued backlash from its decision to pull two apps in response to ongoing protests in Hong Kong against the Chinese government.
Apple needs ChinaThe Chinese market is incredibly important for Apple. Of the $53 billion in net sales Apple did in Q3 2019, China accounted for $9.2 billion. That's well behind the Americas, but just shy of the $11.9 billion generated in Europe. VPNs allow Chinese internet users to circumvent the government's so-called Great Firewall, a series of highly restrictive blocks that prevent citizens from accessing websites the government doesn't approve of.
"The app displays police locations and we have verified with the Hong Kong Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau that the app has been used to target and ambush police, threaten public safety, and criminals have used it to victimize residents in areas where they know there is no law enforcement," the company said through a spokesperson.