Google refuses to delete "Absher" that allows men to track women

Google has refused to remove a Saudi Arabia government app "Absher" that allows men to track and control women's movements.

After reviewing the app, the company said that the software does not violate any of its agreement, and terms and conditions.

The tech giant has conveyed their decisions to the office of Representative Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who, with other 13 colleagues in Congress, demanded the removal of the app from the Google Play store.

The app allows men guardians of the women to a state where their dependents can go, for how long and which airports they can visit.

If a woman leaves a certain area, then immediately an alert is triggered to their male guardians.

The app has been criticized for its oppressive nature. It was initially designed for  Saudi citizens to access e-government services, but it also allows men to track their female dependents and migrant workers, in order to track their movements and restrict their free passage through passport data.

The app is available on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

However, Apple says it is still reviewing Absher.