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Apple Music Caught Censoring Pro-Democracy Music In China (gizmodo.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: Chinese journalists and netizens recently found that Apple Music's Chinese streaming service censored a song by Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung that references the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, an extremely politically sensitive topic for the Chinese Communist Party. The incident's 30th anniversary is coming up in June. Sophie Richardson, the China Director at Human Rights Watch, called the reported move "spectacularly craven." The Tiananmen protests are emblematic of a larger pro-democracy movement in China that was snuffed out by the Beijing government. Thousands of protesters were killed, but the exact numbers have themselves been censored by Chinese government officials.

Apple Music has also reportedly censored Anthony Wong and Denise Ho, two pro-democracy singers. After being noticed by Chinese netizens, the removals were reported by the Hong Kong Free Press and The Stand, two Hong Kong-based news outlets. Taiwan News also reported the censorship of Cheung's "Ren Jian Dao." The music remains available on Apple Music's North American products.
"By removing a song referring the Tiananmen Massacre, @apple is actively participating in the Chinese Communist Party's agenda of scrubbing the colossal violations it has committed against the Chinese people from collective memory and rewriting history," tweeted Yaqiu Wang, a Chinese researcher with Human Rights Watch.

27 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Democracy by The+Altruist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because nothing is more threatening to a walled garden.

    1. Re:Democracy by stealth_finger · · Score: 3, Funny

      Are they expecting apple to take a stand when money is involved or something? Can't see it happening to be honest.

      --
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    2. Re:Democracy by DickBreath · · Score: 3, Funny

      Think Different!

      Just like everyone else. Don't rock the boat. Rebrand 'prison camp' to 'walled garden'.

      How dare you think you should be able to make a repair instead of buying the latest thing we tell you to buy!

      Complaining about the lack of a headphone jack is a sign of cowardice comrad.

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  2. Business as usual by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Apple is not in the business of free speech, they're in the business of making money. If censoring one song means they can keep making money, they will.

    1. Re: Business as usual by dmomo · · Score: 2

      I'm not sure he said anything was OK.

    2. Re: Business as usual by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Companies are required to obey the law. Apple didn't make the law requiring certain terms and topics to be censored in China, but they are required to obey it, just like they are required to obey censorship laws in other countries, including America.

      It is not the job of western corporations to "fix" China. That is up to the Chinese.

    3. Re: Business as usual by larryjoe · · Score: 2

      Companies are required to obey the law. Apple didn't make the law requiring certain terms and topics to be censored in China, but they are required to obey it, just like they are required to obey censorship laws in other countries, including America.

      The Chinese government kills people deemed to be threats. Apple, Google, et al. obey Chinese censorship laws. People outside of China (e.g., on slashdot) criticize China and Apple, Google, et al., and that initial criticism is further criticized.

      This is all as it should be in a civil society, with the possible exception of the first part.

      It is not the job of western corporations to "fix" China. That is up to the Chinese.

      Here on slashdot, we're not trying to fix China. The China detractors are under no delusion that they have any non-zero influence on the Chinese government. Rather, these discussions and criticisms of China are for our benefit, not for China's. The hope is that such discussions in countries that allow citizens to challenge and criticize the government will prevent/blunt similar abuses in those countries.

  3. Sensitive by Roodvlees · · Score: 2

    Because if you can't attack peaceful people have people accept it as okay, you're just a business.

    --
    Thank you, Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden and so many others, for courageously defending humanity, my freedom and more!
  4. Re:Hypocrisy by Quakeulf · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Left and right is a false dichotomy to drive divide-and-conquer so we fight each others instead of those who push this misdirection.

  5. It is the law of their country by aepervius · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am sure also apple music Germany is censoring selling pro nazi song sales. We may not like the law of *their* country, but apple has to respect local laws *where ever* it sells. It is pretty much so in every country that the law of the location of the buyer is the one which applies, not the law of the seller. If they don't want to respect the law of a country, the solution is simply : don't sell to anybody in that country. Many US outfit do that if you try to go to their site with an EU address they simply throw you out and say "GDPR we don't want you". Same principle.

    --
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    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469/
    visit randi.org
    1. Re:It is the law of their country by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      I am sure also apple music Germany is censoring selling pro nazi song sales. We may not like the law of *their* country, but apple has to respect local laws *where ever* it sells.

      Yeah but Germany is basically a democracy with free citizens. China is a repressive autocracy that harvests organs from political prisoners.

      Supporting one is not the same as supporting the other.

      If they don't want to respect the law of a country, the solution is simply : don't sell to anybody in that country.

      That does seem to be what people are indeed advocating. Don't lend support to the repressive organ-harvesting regime even if there's lots of money to be made.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
  6. Music is sinful by AHuxley · · Score: 2

    and was curated for the Communist party.

    Welcome to Communist censorship.
    In free Taiwan the real China people can listen to music.
    Recall the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests.
    Talk about the history of Communist China.
    Look at cartoon bears.
    Read books like 1984.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  7. It's in Apple's DNA by jenningsthecat · · Score: 2, Informative

    Apple has a history of censoring content in its platforms. In this it seems that they're no different from many other major players. That's probably not surprising, given the symbiotic relationship between big corporations and governments. But there's an inconsistency here. On the one hand, Apple actively opposes US law enforcement's efforts to compromise users' private data. On the other hand, they seem to get behind censorship in a big way, sometimes even in support of totalitarianism.

    People behave inconsistently - I guess entities that enjoy 'corporate personhood' exhibit similar behaviour.

    --
    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
  8. welcome to China by v1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This article can be summed up with "company respects sovereignty of a country, and I'm outraged!"

    Anyone doing business in China has to follow the laws, even if they don't align with the typical morals of the country where the business is based.

    "Obey our laws or get out of China." It's just that simple.

    TFA makes it sound like they have some magical 3rd choice and they're being evil for not "doing the right thing". It's pretty self-evident that they don't want to pack up and leave China, and removing a few songs from their store there (that are basically illegal to distribute in China) is a very small price to pay for them to stay in the market. Apple isn't above the law in China, they mow down large crowds of people trying to push this song's message, you don't think they will kick out Apple? This article is just trying to grab some headlines by reminding us that water is wet.

    --
    I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
    1. Re:welcome to China by fortythirteen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There is nothing wrong with expecting ethics to outweigh profit. Is a shipowner who transports slaves considered innocent if they are moving them between countries that have legalized slavery, or are we rightfully outraged by the presence of a slave trader?

  9. Could always pull out of China by tepples · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google complied with Chinese law by ceasing to do business in China. I imagine that opponents of censorship would prefer that Apple follow suit.

    1. Re:Could always pull out of China by stealth_finger · · Score: 2

      Google complied with Chinese law by ceasing to do business in China. I imagine that opponents of censorship would prefer that Apple follow suit.

      Good luck if anyone expects apple to choose morals when sales are on the line. And I don't think apple would be willing to risk all that sweet, sweet sweatshop labour.

      --
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    2. Re:Could always pull out of China by postbigbang · · Score: 2

      That would require courage and principles in the face of profits.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    3. Re:Could always pull out of China by mlw4428 · · Score: 2

      As long as they still make smartphones, use any form of technology with any components from China, or hire contractors from China...Google is STILL doing business with China.

  10. Caught dealing in China in the first place by tepples · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "An American international company CAUGHT following/respecting local laws in a country they do business!!!"

    Could be rephrased:
    "An American international company CAUGHT doing business in the first place in a country where local law requires violating human rights!!!"

    1. Re:Caught dealing in China in the first place by schwit1 · · Score: 2

      The 'I was just following orders' defense went out at Nuremberg.

      Apple is a profits-first company just like Google. You can see this clearly as they won't withdraw from OIC nations that hang people for the crime of being gay. (Four stores in Brunei alone!) Not on the list of companies boycotting Brunei. Apples Investor Relations team would love to hear from you, Im sure.

  11. Apple caught Censoring NAZI movies in germany by goombah99 · · Score: 2

    Local laws and regulations require Censoring. Look at germany. Look at France. where certain historical items are not allowed for trade like nazi gear.
    And even look at the US where you have to censor crypto when sold overseas. You used not to be able to advertise if you were a lawyer. You can't advertise cigarettes near schools and other venues for minors. You also can't sell certain drugs, not just illicit drugs, in the US that are legal in europe.

    Ronald Reagan banned envionmentalists from canda (Farley Mowatt).

    Countries ban things that offend their sensibilities.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    1. Re:Apple caught Censoring NAZI movies in germany by stealth_finger · · Score: 2

      Local laws and regulations require Censoring. Look at germany. Look at France. where certain historical items are not allowed for trade like nazi gear. And even look at the US where you have to censor crypto when sold overseas. You used not to be able to advertise if you were a lawyer. You can't advertise cigarettes near schools and other venues for minors. You also can't sell certain drugs, not just illicit drugs, in the US that are legal in europe.

      Ronald Reagan banned envionmentalists from canda (Farley Mowatt).

      Countries ban things that offend their sensibilities.

      This is more like saying you're not allowed to talk about the whole slavery thing.

      --
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  12. When I lived in China there were the 3 T's and X by Hasaf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The Three T's and X were: Tibet, Tiananmen, Taiwan, and Xinjiang. It was made clear that we (the Westerners) had no knowledge or opinions on these topics. As such we have nothing to say about them.

    One day a new assistant asked me about Tiananmen. I asked her what she knew. She told me that her history teacher told her that it was a beautiful park in Beijing where people fly kites. Her grandfather had told her something much more in line with what those of us who watched it life on TV saw.

    I was not entirely sure about her at that point, so my answer to her was, "you should honour your grandfather."

    She laughed and said, "that is so Chinese." However, she also understood my answer.

  13. Re:Liberals = shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Only read your first sentence. There were no ethnic slurs, you lied because you can't help but be shit.

    Look back over last 4 years and see EVERY liberal calling me a racist, bigot, homophobe and you not ONCE calling them out.
    You are also shit. The DNC/liberals ARE the party of the KKK (see gov of VA) there is no debating it. You don't like being called shit or a racist, then don't support the KKK.
    Don't support killing live born babes, don't support illegals killing US citizens and calling us racists for saying that is a bad stance. It did happen, San Francisco is PROTECTING the illegal alien that killed Kate Stynley and the DNC in Congress REFUSES to pass a law that might prevent it happening again.

    This asshole calls out one side for pointing out his guys are shit and giving specific examples of why, but he gives a pass for years of name calling from him and his buddies.
    Like I said... Liberals = shit

  14. Re:No. Capitalism. by houghi · · Score: 4, Funny

    Q: How do you console a grammar nazi?
    A: telnet there their they're

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  15. Google partnering with Chinese gov't too by drnb · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Google complied with Chinese law by ceasing to do business in China. I imagine that opponents of censorship would prefer that Apple follow suit.

    And then Google changed its mind and started making surveilance/censorship software for China. Google has also partnered with the Chinese government.