Apple has withdrawn a popular firewall bypassing app called OpenDoor from its App Store, which has angered many Chinese internet users who use the application to get past the so-called internet's Great Firewall.
China's internet users were depressed to learn of Apple's withdrawal of a popular firewall-busting application from its China App Store. The free application, OpenDoor, was widely used in China to access restricted sites. The tech giant justified its decision to withdraw the app to contain "illegal content."
Apple's latest move was not appreciated by users in China as well as the app developers, who protested. China prevents internet users from accessing several websites under its strict internet policies.
OpenDoor remains accessible to users outside China.
The app developers learnt that their application was pulled from the China App Store without prior notice through users' comments online. On being queried about the reason for the removal, Apple responded that the app contained illegal content. Apple further asked developers to "comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are made available to users".
The app developers, however, strongly oppose Apple's decision as their product is a simple browsing app and it is up to user's discretion to access the content through it.
"Unfortunately, we're not aware of any app developer ever (successful) in challenging Apple's decision. In fact, we won't be surprised if Apple decides to pull our app from all app stores and/or terminates our account in retaliation (to publicity over the issue)," OpenDoor Devs told CNN.
China is the second largest market for Apple after the United States. The country has 591 million internet users and 464 million people access the internet from their smartphones or wireless devices.
Apple previously removed a news app and another app, which allowed users to access books banned in China. Apple wants to maintain a good relationship with the Chinese Government but its decision may be turning sour on its users.
