INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
A protester shouting outside the Catalan justice court., during a demonstration
in Barcelona
Microsoft-owned GitHub has blocked Spanish users from accessing an app designed to help Catalan independence
the app, as a "criminal organisation" which incites riots.GitHub said it always complied with lawful requests.A spokesman said: "Although we
may not always agree with those laws, we may need to block content if we receive a valid request from a government official so that our
users in that jurisdiction may continue to have access to GitHub to collaborate and build software."GitHub has received takedown requests
from China and Russia, related to different posts.From hosting to protestsSan Francisco-based GitHub provides hosting for software
GitHub to develop tools to co-ordinate protest action, including an encrypted communication app.The group helped to organise
pro-independence rallies at Barcelona airport, which saw dozens of flights cancelled.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Thousands of Catalonia pro-independence activists occupy Barcelona airport.
Protestors demonstrating against the
imprisonment of nine Catalan separatist leaders have copied tactics devised by demonstrators in Hong Kong, including blocking airports and
using encrypted messaging.This is not the first time a company has removed an app linked to protests.Earlier this month, Apple removed an
TechCrunch that users of Apple's iPhone can't yet download the app because the "politics of the App Store is very restrictive".The app is
currently only available as a raw Android file, and users cannot download it via the Google Play store either.Image copyrightGetty
ImagesImage caption
A protester in Hong Kong holds up a a Catalan pro-independence Estelada flag
Catalan protesters have copied tactics devised by demonstrators in Hong Kong
'Sabotage'The Spanish military police, or
Guardia Civil, said protestors had engaged in "sabotage" of Spain's main infrastructure.GitHub's website says it follows a four-step process
each time it receives a takedown request.This includes notifying affected users and giving them the chance to dispute any request.It also
says it tries to "limit the geographic scope of the takedown when possible".Joe Brew, an independent data scientist, said the ban was likely
to be ineffective."Trying to ban these types of things is like a game of cat-and-mouse
The moment you succeed with a ban in one place, it pops up in ten other places."
