|
Saudi Arabia defends app that allows men to monitor wives, daughters
[IsraelTimes] Riyadh responds to outcry as attempt to politicize Absher service, after US Senator joins calls for Apple and Google to remove it from stores.Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... on Saturday defended a mobile app that allows men in the kingdom to track female relatives after rights groups and a US politician criticized tech giants for offering it. The Absher app provides services for "all members of the society... including women, the elderly, and people with special needs," the interior ministry said. The free app is available on Android and Apple smartphones and allows users to renew passports, visas and eases a variety of other electronic services. But critics have said the app enables abuse against women and girls by allowing men to track their movements. Apple CEO Tim Cook told US National Public Radio earlier this week he had not heard of the app, but would "take a look at it." US Senator Ron Wyden has called on both Apple and Google to remove the app, arguing on Twitter that it promotes "abusive practices against women." Under Saudi law, women must have consent from a husband or immediate male relative to renew passports or leave the country. The ministry criticized what it called a "systematic campaign aimed at questioning the purpose of the services." It rejected what it described as "attempts to politicize" the tool. Posted by: trailing wife 2019-02-17 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=534525 |