Apple succumbs to Wikileaks pressure
In an article published Dec 23, 2010, it is reported that Apple has joined dozens of other high profile companies including Visa, Pay Pal and Amazon in succumbing to pressure to black-list Wikileaks.
Presumably under some US Govt pressure Apple has removed the Wikileaks iPhone app from it online store, effectively choosing the side of the establishment in its battle against Wikileaks and its figurehead, Julian Assange. For long time Apple has marketed itself to its users via its iconoclastic attitudes that have pushed Apple to bypass Microsoft as the worlds largest technology company (see 2010: the year Apple, Steve Jobs became a cultural phenomenon), and now we are seeing that bravado disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
Google, however, continues to make Wikileaks apps for its Android system available on its Android Marketplace.
See Apple Bans Wikileaks iPhone app for original article
In related news, the Moscow newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, controlled by Russian billionaire, Alexander Lebedev and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, said it agreed to join forces with WikiLeaks to expose corruption in Russia.
Julian Assange has also said he has material specific to Russia which he will make available soon.
See Russian billionaire joins WikiLeaks to expose corruption
See also, The Julian Assange Witchhunt
Related to - World affairs | Mark's blog | Current affairs
By Mark O'Brien