Apple squash
Apple has pulled an unofficial WikiLeaks app from its iTunes App Store, but apparently a handful of similar apps survive on the Android platform.
According to The Guardian, the offending app went live just 5 days ago and must have got approval from Apple. It reportedly offered access to the leaked diplomatic cables that have caused such a storm, mirroring official WikiLeaks content, plus all the updates from WikiLeaks' Twitter account.
The developer of the application called Igor Barinov, told the newspaper that Apple pulled it without giving any reason. He had reportedly planned on giving half the cash raised from sales of the $1.99 app to WikiLeaks and claimed its presence on Apple's App Store had already pulled in over $1,000 from downloads.
Apparently the app remains available via Apptrackr, while similar unofficial WikiLeaks applications mirroring the site's content are listed in the Android Market.
While the WikiLeaks website is now back online, with PayPal, MasterCard and Visa refusing to do business with the whistle blowing website, apps are the only present way that people can make a donation to the beleaguered site.
As WikiLeaks hacktivists attacked the firms that refused to do business with WikiLeaks with DDoS attacks, it will be interesting to see whether Apple becomes a target. Some people have suggested WikiLeaks supporters may boycott Apple, but in reality the computer giant is unlikely to see a huge dent in its profits or its credibility.
