Pro democracy protesters of Hong Kong will no longer be able to down load a real-time mapping app used by them for tracking police movements on iPhones.

Apple said in a statement that there were complaints received by it from several people in Hong Kong, following which the company decided to take down HKmap.live from its App Store. It added that the app had been used in ways that “endanger law enforcement and residents in Hong Kong.”

“The app displays police locations and we have verified with [Hong Kong authorities] 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,” Apple said in an emailed response to the media. “This app violates our guidelines and local laws, and we have removed it from the App Store,” it added.

The removal of the HKmap from Apple Store was described as a “political decision” by the makers of the app. “We disagree [with] Apple and Hong Kong police force’s claim that HKmap App endangers law enforcement and residents in Hong Kong,” the app said on Twitter.

HKmap said that the users of the app generate most of the content on the app, and added that anything that tries to “solicit, promote, or encourage criminal activity” is deleted by its moderators.

It further said that the App Store ban “is clearly a political decision to suppress freedom and human rights in Hong Kong.”

The announcement by Apple did not immediately make it clear whether the HKmap could be used by those users who had already downloaded it. It was also not cleared out by the developers of the app.

It is being alleged that Apple took the decision to ban the app from its Apple Store soon after there was criticism in the Chinese state media of the company that it was allowing the download and the use of the HKmap.

Apple was strongly accused of “escorting” the protesters, in a harshly-worded commentary that was published in the official newspaper of China’s Communist Party on Tuesday. “The app developer doesn’t shy away from their intention of helping rioters navigate through the protests,” the People’s Daily said. “Are you trying to assist in crime?”

The Chinese market is a critical one for Apple. In the last quarter, about 17% of its global total or $9.1 billion was generated in sale by the company from the Greater China region.

The pro democracy protests of Hong Kong were described as “violent and illegal” by Beijing on Wednesday.

While no comments were made specifically on the decision of Apple by a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, the spokesperson said that the unrest “threatens the safety of Hong Kong people’s life and properties.” “Anyone that has conscience or a sense of justice should oppose it and resist it, rather than supporting or indulging it,” he added.

(Adapted from CNN.com)

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