Google Removes Pro-Hong Kong Protestor Game from Play Store

After Apple removed a crowdsourced mapping app used by protestors as well as the Quartz’s news app from the App Store, it is now Google’s turn to crack down on Hong Kong-related apps, starting with a game called The Revolution of Our Times that has now been permanently pulled from the Play Store (via The Verge).

A Google spokesperson has told The Wall Street Journal the game was removed due to a Play Store policy that bans “capitalizing on sensitive events such as attempting to make money from serious ongoing conflicts or tragedies through a game.”

Unlike Apple’s recent App Store bans of HKmap.live and Quartz’s news app, Google’s takedown feels more in line with regular app store enforcement, although the rule leaves plenty of room for interpretation. For example, who decides what counts as “capitalizing on sensitive events”?

As events in Hong Kong continue to progress, with more and more companies drawn into the conflict, expect even more eyes to be on Apple and Google.

Before being deleted, the free game with in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 to $14.99 had been downloaded over 1,000 times.