Mr. Tim Cook

Chief Executive Officer

Apple Incorporation

Re: Immediately remove apps that are promoting murder, extrajudicial killings, violence, and the war on drugs in the Philippines.

We, the undersigned, bring to your attention numerous apps, which actively promote and endorse violence and killings of marginalized communities of people who use drugs. As organizations and networks representing these communities, we find these depictions and promotions extremely shocking, especially given their divergence from Apple’s strict guidelines that pertain to your apps. Where Apple is a staunch proponent of human values, community and connectedness, your promoting, through the App store, of the killing of people who use drugs is in clear contradiction of your values as an organization.

Specifically, numerous apps currently available through Apple are actively promoting the war on people who use drugs in the Philippines, a war that has resulted in the state-endorsed murders of more than 13,000 people[1] – many of them children – ostensibly suspected of using or selling drugs since June 2016. Duterte’s war on people who use drugs, that is often referred as ‘War on Poor’ has brought destruction of millions of lives of people who use drugs, including thousands who are imprisoned under inhumane conditions, their families and children who were already the most marginalized in and vulnerable to the Philippines system.

On the Human Rights Council 36^th session, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in his statement said, “In the Philippines, I continue to be gravely concerned by the President’s open support for a shoot-to-kill policy regarding suspects, as well as by the apparent absence of credible investigations into reports of thousands of extrajudicial killings, and the failure to prosecute any perpetrator.”[2]

The atrocities occurring in the Philippines are widely known, but bear repeating: as you probably know, Duterte has repeatedly incited the public and Filipino police to murder any people suspected of any drug offences[3] with impunity and has given a clear ‘license to kill’[4]. Recently, his war on people who use drugs hit a new level of brutality in the killing of 32 people in just one night of August[5], targeting impoverished people, young people, and students, and has recently given a clear order to his authorities to shoot human rights activists[6]. His message is clear: drug users are subhuman, they are zombies, and they do not have the right to life.

To reiterate, numerous apps, including those in the picture below actively promote these atrocities occurring in the Philippines. These games valorize and normalize the emerging tyranny of Duterte’s presidency and his government’s disregard for human rights principles. In virtual reality these games may seem harmless and fun, but when they are placed within the context of existing realities, of real murders of people and the impunity of law enforcement, then these games become offensive and distasteful.

These games clearly violate the App Store Review Guidelines that explicitly mention following points as objectionable content under the very first section related to ‘Safety’:[7]

• “Defamatory, discriminatory, or mean-spirited content, including references or commentary about religion, race, sexual orientation, gender, national/ethnic origin, or other targeted groups, particularly if the app is likely to humiliate, intimidate, or place a targeted individual or group in harm’s way. Professional political satirists and humorists are generally exempt from this requirement.
• Realistic portrayals of people or animals being killed, maimed, tortured, or abused, or content that encourages violence. “Enemies” within the context of a game cannot solely target a specific race, culture, real government, corporation, or any other real entity.”

Mr. Cook, Duterte’s war on people who use drugs in the Philippines has been condemned by United Nations[8]^,[9],[10], International Criminal Court (ICC)[11], over 45 country governments[12] and over 375 community and civil society organizations globally[13]. Already 2 cases have been filed against him at the ICC[14]. It is entirely inappropriate for Apple to be promoting the actions, policies and discourses of a politician and state that have resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent people. It is also entirely incongruous with Apple’s progressive and inclusive philosophies. It is unacceptable that Apple is tolerant to making profit out of people’s unjust deaths and misery. We can only conclude that Apple is not aware that these apps are available in your store.

Therefore, we urgently request a formal review of the apps made available by Apple, and demand that you remove all the above-mentioned games immediately and issue an apology for hosting such insensitive content.

Yours,

[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME WILL BE INSERTED HERE]

References:

[1] Thousands demand end to killings in Duterte’s drug war: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/thousands-demand-killings-duterte-drug-war-170821124440845.html

[2] Darker and more dangerous: High Commissioner updates the Human Rights Council on human rights issues in 40 countries – Human Rights Council 36th session, Opening Statement by Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true

[3] The Philippines’ Duterte Incites Vigilante Violence: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/04/19/philippines-duterte-incites-vigilante-violence

[4] “License to Kill” Philippine Police Killings in Duterte’s “War on Drugs”: https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/03/02/license-kill/philippine-police-killings-dutertes-war-drugs

[5] Philippine police kill 32 in bloodiest night of Duterte’s war on drugs: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/16/philippines-police-bloodiest-night-duterte-war-drugs

[6] Philippines: Duterte Threatens Human Rights Community: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/17/philippines-duterte-threatens-human-rights-community

[7] App Store Review Guidelines: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/

[8] Secretary-General’s remarks at the UN Correspondents Association Reception: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2016-06-08/secretary-generals-remarks-un-correspondents-association-reception

[9] Statement by the UNODC Executive Director on the situation in the Philippines: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2016/August/statement-by-the-unodc-executive-director-on-the-situation-in-the-philippines.html

[10] INCB expresses concern about reports of violence against persons suspected of drug-related crime and drug use in the Philippines: https://www.incb.org/incb/en/news/press-releases/2016/press_release030816.html

[11] Int’l Criminal Court chief prosecutor warns PH over drug killings: http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/10/14/Intl-Criminal-Court-chief-prosecutor-warns-PH-over-drug-killings.html

[12] 45 UNHRC members call for end to killings: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/05/12/1699064/45-unhrc-members-call-end-killings

[13] Over 300 NGOs call on the United Nations to take immediate action on the hundreds of extrajudicial killings of suspected drug offenders in the Philippines: http://idpc.net/media/press-releases/2016/08/over-300-ngos-call-on-the-united-nations-to-take-immediate-action-on-the-hundreds-of-extrajudicial-killings-of-suspected-drug-offenders-in-the-philippines

[14] ‘Mass murder’ complaint filed against Philippines’ President Duterte at ICC: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/25/mass-complaint-launched-against-philippines-president-duterte-at-icc