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Hong Kong Apple users claim Safari briefly blocked global code site GitLab, seemingly because it's blacklisted by Chinese-owned Tencent.
Safari aims to protect users from websites that may contain malware or other issues, and it does so by using blacklists of problematic sites. Those lists are maintained either by Google Safe Browsing, or China's Tencent Safe Browsing — and it's Tencent that is the issue.
Apple has long used Tencent when a device's region is set to mainland China. Apple's use of a Chinese-owned firm has been controversial, but it was specifically limited to China.
According to The Intercept, however, Apple appears to now be using Tencent's blacklist for devices registered in Hong Kong, too. Hong Kong is a city in South China, but its users have not previously been subjected to mainland China's censorship.
Tweeter Chu Ka-cheong is a former Apple employee and software engineer. He tweeted that access to GitLab was being blocked by Safari for purportedly containing dangerous "unverified information."
A current Apple engineer responded to the tweet, saying that the issue would be looked into. GitLab access was subsequently restored, but reportedly, there has been no further response from Apple.
The Intercept reports that Apple spokesperson Nadine Haija would only direct them to asking Tencent. In its turn, Tencent declined to comment.
However, at some po ..
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