Apple just blocked a controversial crime reporting app
Apple has removed a controversial crime reporting app from its app store.
The Vigilante app, which is still operational for those who already downloaded it, notifies people of crimes soon after they're reported. It then sends alerts to the smartphones of people near where the crimes are reported.
"What if everyone within a quarter mile of every reported crime were immediately made aware of it?" the company wrote in a Medium post announcing its launch. "What if there were a camera on every crime? What if transparency existed -- if we all knew where crime was occurring and how it was being resolved?"
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The app's creators issued a statement on their website confirming that the app was no longer available.
"We are working with Apple to resolve their concerns," the company said in a statement.
The company has also said there will soon be an Android version of the app. For now, the app only works in New York City.
On the map, users can see reports of crimes. Though the creators of the app have stressed that the system is meant to help people avoid crimes, there's certainly the risk that users will take it upon themselves to investigative or intervene (as the user "Dark Guardian" posted on Twitter).
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To get a better idea of what the app aspires to, check out its promotional video below.
Topics Apple Apps & Software
Jason Abbruzzese is a Business Reporter at Mashable. He covers the media and telecom industries with a particular focus on how the Internet is changing these markets and impacting consumers. Prior to working at Mashable, Jason served as Markets Reporter and Web Producer at the Financial Times. Jason holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and an M.A. in International Affairs from Australian National University.
