Apple, censorship, and cogs in the wheel: the Dalai Lama is expunged from Chinese App Store

Hi I've just finished A Great Deception by WSS.

I found the book is written with alot of implications and accusation which makes it less credible. It seems quite political in the way it presents it case and perhaps a more neutral or objective apprach would have been more realistic.

If I was a non-Shugdan practitioner, after reading this book, I would be turn off. But luckily I am not. And if I was new to Buddhism, it will create huge confusion and turn me off completely.

As much as they blame the Dalai Lama for creating sectarianism, I find that they are creating the book is creating it as well just by way of presenting their facts. Perhaps more proofs or evidence of letters etc could have carried more weight? Just my opinion, read it and decide for your self.

@DA623 - Oh? Generally FUD has to be untrue to be FUD. Of course, since this is a Apple fanboy blog I'd expect someone pointing out all of Apple's flaws would simply be dismissed as FUD or trolling. After all, to people who actually hang out at blogs like this, they're busy thinking Apple can do no wrong

There isn't a single Apple product that isn't locked down to all hell.

There isn't a single Apple product that doesn't have an incomplete feature set.

There isn't a single Apple product that doesn't cost 25 to 75% percent more than their competition, which, as pointed out, has more functionality and power then all of Apple's products combined.

There isn't a single Apple product that actually proves the ambitious claim that their products are of any higher quality. iMacs crash, iPhones get hacked, iPods hard disks eff themselves easier than any other HDD-based PMP in the entire history of the industry. And all you Steve Jobs cultists love to deny it despite proof to the contrary.

Let's also forget that Apple has never once innovated. Like Microsoft they bought out or ripped off their technology, or simply suffered from Not Invented Here syndrome.

Wrap it in a buzzword and make it shiny and idiot Apple bloggers like you drool over it simply because Steve Jobs tells you to.

I dare you to name an Apple product that doesn't fit that bill. I'll point out EXACTLY what's wrong with that product that proves you wrong.

These are the things I read in a day (as well as the responses) that make me wonder if tech readers are naive, ignorant, or just plain uneducated. All 5 of the apps mentioned, along with a few other apps, audio books, movies, and other items are available in the US (as well as other country's) iTunes.

Censorship would be an easy claim freedom of speech and press were protected by International Law, but last I checked, this was not the case. Freedom of speech and press is a US Constitutional right and China is a Communist nation.

As pointed out above there is a big difference in defending Capitalism and a business being cooperative with the laws of another government when that government is allowing that business to sell it's goods and services within that government's country.

It's very easy to point the finger and make Apple out to be the bad guy here, but in reality as a business (a global business at that) you do what you can to make sure that your business endures. If Apple were censoring these apps in the US iTunes store then I would be in agreement, but this article seems to be grandstanding for the sake of grandstanding, with little to no solution.

@jigme - Give me a break! The WSS is the equivalent of Fox News. The spew garbage to make a lemming set of followers believe that the Dalai Lama is evil. It's difficult for me to believe the rantings of an organization of Monks who yell and scream during protests with the very religion they claim to protect is a the only true quiet and peaceful religion.

One other thing...George Lucas intended to emulate the Dalai Lama in his creation of his most wise character...Yoda.

Happy New Year to those who will learn this year and not let ANY media be there sole basis for learning the truth!

Typical Anti-Apple fud... Maybe he thought this was Engadget where sadly this comment would be uber-highly ranked...

I'm not supprised at all by this. I am 99% sure they did this solely though trying to prevent issues with the Chinese government, especally as someone mentioned here, China didn't even want an App store orginally because the PRC couldn't control it but then they allowed Apple to have it. But with how screwed up the rights for the citizens and business in the PRC are, if they didn't remove these apps, I am sure the Chinese government would more than likely block any access to the App store entirely.

Personally, I don't see why we do business there. Yes, they got over 1 billion people, about 300 million in a semi-middle class or middle class rank, but doing business there with their very poor human rights and the PRC government constantly butting into what you can do everywhere ELSE, I would imagine it would be the worst country to set up a major business in (especially international business like Apple).

I forgot to mention that I am simply NOT surprised Apple did this. I bet they would have done it whether or not the Chinese Government wanted them to.

This is a typical action on the part of Apple.

any

Nothing new. Ten years ago during Apple's "Think Different" ad campaign, one of the series of print ads featured the Dalai Lama. When it was deployed in Hong Kong, the Chinese government complained, and Apple pulled the ad from the series -- not just in the Chinese market but everywhere (though not before it had appeared elsewhere; I have a copy from the back cover of Time magazine). I didn't think much of the campaign (nor of the present "I'm a Mac" narcissism, whatever its success in the market), but it's a nice photo of HHDL.

I have long been a serious aficionado and scholar of Chinese culture and history, but am sickened by what that nation -- which can claim greatness in so many other ways -- has done (and continues to do) to its harmless neighbor Tibet: one of the greatest childish temper tantrums in world history.

How ironic that your last article in 2009, was the best article ever written on TUAW.

You don't have to sell your AAPL shares to show disgust with their actions. Grass roots compaigns involving blog posts like this can be just as effective.

Apple is sensitive to its shareholders, but I can guarentee you they are much more sensitive to their customers.

Don't blame Apple, blame the PRC. Blame their golden shield project that ruins the free speech and democracy.

I should let you know, the government originally did not even allow Apple's App store at all, but they decided to allow it, since Apple allowed the most of control over the approval process in Chinese store.