中英對照讀新聞》Apple, Google raise new concerns by yanking Russian app 蘋果、Google突然將俄羅斯應用程式下架再次挑起疑慮

◎管淑平

Big Tech companies that operate around the globe have long promised to obey local laws and to protect civil rights while doing business.

在全球營運的科技巨頭公司向來承諾在做生意的同時，會遵守當地的法律，保障公民權利。

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But when Apple and Google capitulated to Russian demands and removed a political-opposition app from their local app stores, it raised worries that two of the world’s most successful companies are more comfortable bowing to undemocratic edicts _ and maintaining a steady flow of profits _ than upholding the rights of their users.

但是，當蘋果和Google公司屈從俄羅斯的要求，將一款政治反對派的應用程式從當地應用程式商店下架時，令人擔心這兩家全球最成功的企業，在維持穩定獲利的同時，輕易就向不民主的命令低頭，而非堅持維護用戶權利。

The ban galled supporters of free elections and free expression. ``This is bad news for democracy and dissent all over the world,`` said Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel for Access Now, an internet freedom group. (AP)

這項禁令激怒了選舉和言論自由的支持者。「這是對全世界民主和異議的壞消息」，網路自由倡議團體Access Now科技法務顧問克拉苾瓦說。（美聯社）

新聞辭典

yank：動詞，突然猛拉，突然撤除或離開（某群體或情況，通常在違反其意願下）。例句：He yanked open the door.（他猛力打開這道門。）

capitulate：動詞，屈服，讓步。例句：The government capitulated to the demands of the protesters.（政府讓步接受抗議者的要求。）

gall：動詞，激怒。例句：It galled him to take orders from a junior staff. （要他聽命於基層員工激怒了他。）