A few days ago, Apple removed the WikiLeaks app for iPhone & iPod. As the app was unofficial & as well as controversial, Apple decided to let it down. It was charging $2 per download of the app since it popped up on the App Store on December 17th. The developer of the app recently revealed the total breakdown of his app’s reach before it was removed by Apple. He also announced to donate the majority of the earnings to WikiLeaks. Julian Assange must be happy to know that.
The app description had said: “The Wikileaks app gives instant access to the world’s most documented leakage of top secret memos and other confidential government documents.” You can now have all of the sensitive WikiLeaks data easily available on your iPhone…”
Igor Barinov is the developer of the app. He has revealed the total stats about the downloads & profits. He has now claimed the app had 4,443 download, which made $5,840.14. Of that amount, $1.00 from each sale a total of $4443 will be donated to Wikileaks.
The app used to be available here (here’s the Google cache).
Barinov explained his motivations:
“I dont mind what wikileaks posts. But i like the way they are defending what i care about = my domain, my traffic, my 127.0.0.1. And if that way will lead to “alternative internet” – i dont want just to press Like button.”
According to the developer, the app has been removed because it violated the following two terms of service:
14.1 Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected
22.1 Apps must comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are made available to users. It is the developer’s obligation to understand and conform to all local laws
Apple confirmed the first point but not the second in a statement to the New York Times.
According to the reporter of Tech Crunch:
Barinov just sent me Apple’s official written response, the second TOS statute that the app is violating is …
22.1 Apps must comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are made available to users. It is the developer’s obligation to understand and conform to all local laws
not 21.1 as reported above. Barinov also mentioned that he has already sent the money to WikiLeaks.
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