Skip navigation
CODEPINK
    • ACTION ALERT: Check out our activities for the Week of January 18, 2021
    • ACTION ALERT: CODEPINK Statement on White Supremacist Attack on the Capitol, January 6 2021
    • ACTION ALERT: CODEPINK in the News Round-Up: January 2021
  • Codepink Store
  • Donate
  • Get Involved
  • Act Now
    Action Calendar Action Alerts Follow CODEPINK Volunteer: Be a Peacemaker CODEPINK Store Donate to CODEPINK Recommended Movies Recommended Books
  • Issues & Campaigns
  • Pink Updates (current)
    Last Week at CODEPINK Action Alerts PINK Tank ~ Blog CODEPINK Webinars Press Releases In the News Blogs from Iran Local Peace Economy Daily
  • About
    Founders & Staff What is CODEPINK Jobs and Internships Our Allies CODEPINK Advisory Board Contact Us
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  1. HOME
  2. ACTION ALERTS

A phone app to stalk women?

S_app.png

Most of the world agrees: stalking women is a crime. But in Saudi Arabia, male guardianship is not only legal but also part of the system. As part of the kingdom’s efforts at “modernization”, the Saudi government has created a new phone app called Absher to help Saudi men track the whereabouts of the women under their control.  

It’s grotesque enough that Saudi Arabia has created this app, but why are Google and Apple providing it for download in their app stores? Both companies have “inappropriate content” policies in place for the apps they provide,  banning bullying and harassment from their platforms. If the Saudi male guardianship system isn’t inappropriate, then I don’t know what is!

Send a message now to Google and Apple telling them to immediately remove the Saudi Absher tracking app.

Under the Saudi’s guardianship system, all women must be assigned a male guardian — a father, husband, uncle, brother, or even son — whose approval is needed for marriage, divorce, to obtain a passport, or to travel. The Absher app streamlines this approval process and ensures that male guardians can track the whereabouts of their female charges in real time. If a woman tries to escape, as 18-year-old Rahaf al-Qunun recently did, the app can help her male guardian find and stop her.  

Google and Apple should not be helping Saudi repression of women. Tell them to immediately remove the Absher app from their stores.

Human Rights Watch has called on the tech giants to remove the app and Senator Ron Wyden has penned a letter to Apple and Google asking them to remove it. Tim Cook says Apple will investigate, but as of now, the app is still available for Saudi men to download. Take action now to tell Google and Apple the Absher app is sexist, revolting, and must be deleted immediately.

In solidarity with Saudi women,
Ariel and Medea and the entire CODEPINK team: Ann, Carley, Caroline, Jodie, Katie, Kelly, Kirsten, Lily, Mark, Nancy, Paki, Ryan, Sarah, and Ursula

Continue Reading

Welcome Gift?

Make History

Reverse the "Terrorist" Designation on the Houthis!

Who is Censoring the Truth?

Show all posts

Be the first to comment


Sign in with

Facebook Twitter


Or sign in with email

    or Create an account


    Create an account

      or Sign in with email
      Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.
      CODEPINK - Women for Peace
      seach
      • ACT NOW
      • ACTION CALENDAR
      • ACTION ALERTS
      • FOLLOW CODEPINK
      • VOLUNTEER: BE A PEACEMAKER
      • CODEPINK STORE
      • DONATE TO CODEPINK
      • RECOMMENDED MOVIES
      • RECOMMENDED BOOKS
      • ISSUES & CAMPAIGNS
      • DIVEST FROM THE WAR MACHINE
      • PALESTINE
      • ACCOUNTABILITY: EXPOSING WAR CRIMES
      • IRAN
      • SAUDI ARABIA
      • PRESIDENT FOR PEACE
      • LATIN AMERICA
      • THE PEACE COLLECTIVE
      • THE FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY PROJECT
      • PINK UPDATES
      • LAST WEEK AT CODEPINK
      • ACTION ALERTS
      • PINK TANK ~ BLOG
      • CODEPINK WEBINARS
      • PRESS RELEASES
      • IN THE NEWS
      • BLOGS FROM IRAN
      • LOCAL PEACE ECONOMY DAILY
      • ABOUT
      • FOUNDERS & STAFF
      • WHAT IS CODEPINK
      • JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
      • OUR ALLIES
      • CODEPINK ADVISORY BOARD
      • CONTACT US
      © 2021 CODEPINK | All Rights Reserved | Created by Code Nation on NationBuilder