Google withdraws for second time UAE application from its store due to espionage allegations

Google has removed the chat application “To Tok”, which a previous report proved to be a spy tool for the UAE from Google Play Store for the second time in two months.

The application was previously withdrawn from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store last December, shortly before the New York Times published a report that confirms that it is a spy tool for the UAE system.

Google restored it last January, but it appears that the app remains unavailable in the app store. 9to5Google noticed the To Tok service was canceled earlier today.

Google confirmed to the technology firm The Verg that it had canceled the application, but gave no explanation.

To Tok was removed for the first time for violating unspecified policies, according to the British newspaper The Times.

To Tok is a messaging app that promises “fast, free and secure” messages and calls, and has been downloaded by millions in the UAE and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Shortly before it was removed from Google Play and Apple Store in December, the app was one of the most downloaded social apps in the United States.

But an investigation by the New York Times found that the app allowed the UAE government to spy on users.

The popular “ToTok” application, which was developed in the UAE, was withdrawn from the “Apple” and “Google” platforms to download the applications after it was proven that it was used by the UAE government for espionage purposes.

“Apple” said it had withdrawn “To Tok” from the platform “App Store”, while “Google” announced that the application was removed from its “Play Store” platform.

The “New York Times” had published a report two days ago stating that the “To Tok” application allows the UAE government to track talks, movement and other details about the people who uploaded it to their phones.