Apple removes drone strike news app, deems it 'not useful or entertaining enough'

Meanwhile, a game in which players have to conduct drone strikes is freely available

An iPhone application that sends push notifications to its users every time there is a US drone attack anywhere in the world has been repeatedly removed for being “not useful or entertaining enough”, The Independent reported.

The application called ‘Metadata+’ was created by Josh Begley, a data artist at The Intercept, with the aim of spreading awareness about the America's use of unmanned drone aircraft in countries like Yemen and Pakistan.

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A previous version of the app, called 'Drones+' had been rejected earlier, after which the renamed Metadata+ was submitted. The app was approved last year, but was pulled off the App Store last weekend.

Apple removed an app that reported on actual drone strikes.
They labeled it as "objectionable"http://t.co/wX4ziiR88t pic.twitter.com/fDqsRKIeJ6

— Imraan Siddiqi (@imraansiddiqi) September 29, 2015

Ironically, Metadata+ never used graphic evidence of the drone strikes. Instead, it used text and maps to convey the message.

In 2012, Begley pointed out that there was a game on the app store in which players carried out drone strikes. Apple did not remove the app, which is still available.

Cool! A drone app that's neither 'crude' nor 'objectionable' pic.twitter.com/Z3C7rZXW

— Josh Begley (@joshbegley) September 13, 2012

Unperturbed and undefeated, Begley has dedicated a Twitter account to update his followers about US drone strikes. Another app, “Ephemeral+”, that performs the same function as ‘Metadata+’ is still available.