Google has removed negative reviews from the Play Store for an app that tracks products made with Uyghur forced labor. This move comes after the app’s developer criticized Google for its business dealings with China.
The app, Uyghur Forced Labor Tracker, was created by a Uyghur woman named Zumretay Arkin. The app allows users to scan barcodes and see if the product was made in China’s Xinjiang region, where Uyghur Muslims are being subjected to forced labor and other human rights abuses.
The app was initially well-received by users, but it soon began to receive negative reviews from users who claimed that it was inaccurate or biased. Arkin believes that these negative reviews were orchestrated by the Chinese government, which has been accused of trying to suppress information about the Uyghur forced labor issue.
In response to the negative reviews, Google removed the app from the Play Store. The company later reinstated the app, but it also removed all of the negative reviews. Arkin said that she was .
