Xi, Putin, MBS, Kim, and now Modi have assassinated critics in countries with free speech protections (UK, US, Canada).
Edit in response to the reply: presumably it's the Chinese market that is not interested in paying for content that criticizes them. But if you want to make this about Apple, then I just reiterate that the parties in this case are entangled in ways that can't be coherently taxonomized into independent subjects that are understood as being completely unrelated to each other. If a company bringing shows to market in a country, and the countries willingness to assassinate critics, are subjects you view as unrelated, then, to use your term, our models of the world are probably too different to productively communicate.
We have video games like Fuck Putin (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1926680/FUCK_PUTIN/) does that count? I’d sure put up a single page html site calling all the above listed as autocrats with blood on their hands but I too fear what might befall me physically or professionally. So much Chinese money flows into the west especially here in Berlin and Germany in general.
Imagine I put up a site that said President Xi is a a despot and looks like a certain bear and word got to my would be employers at BMW and they thought my words would threaten their ability to sell cars in China I wouldn’t be offered the job, that’s for sure.
So, even though I am nobody, I’m still too afraid to really speak out.
Did you read about the Harvard and Columbia law students who had their job offers rescinded because they signed a letter critical of Israel’s actions?
I would expect the same reaction if right after 9/11, a group released a statement saying the US brought the attack on itself.
I am far too dependent on being employable to be able to say what I think without consequence. I’m not rich enough to be able to be free enough to do that.
He was first name in your reply. I assume you have some evidence right? Cite your sources.