Apple shareholders are set to vote next year on whether the company should amend its human rights policies.

Its shareholders are expected to ask Apple to make a commitment to respect the freedom of expression. This unrest follows the company’s decision to remove a controversial mapping app used by activists during the Hong Kong protests. The move has been widely viewed as the company bowing to pressure from the Chinese Government.

Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the move at the time saying the app was being used to “maliciously target individuals officers for violence”.

In a resolution filed on the 9th of September, campaign group SumofUs called on Apple to reveal certain human-rights policies.

According to The Financial Times, the non-binding resolution asks the company to government or other demands that might limit free expression or access to information. It also demands details about how Apple makes policies concerning free speech and access to information.

The proposal was submitted on behalf of the group by Apple shareholders who are SumOfUs members, a spokeswoman said.

Apple tried and failed to block the motion from the agenda saying that it was “substantially the same” as another motion brought in 2018, which received less than 10% of the vote, and was therefore not eligible to be raised again.

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rejected this move on the grounds that the Hong Kong protect app raised new issues, according to the SEC’s website .

“By complying with the government of China’s regime, Apple is aiding the brutal repression of Uyghurs, Tibetans and other rights activists,” said Sondhya Gupta, a senior campaigner at SumOfUs.

“Our motion would force Apple to stand accountable for the impact of its decisions on the lives of innocent people. Until the corporation changes how it does business in China, it will remain complicit in some of the most brutal human rights abuses in the world today.”

In the second half of 2018, Apple removed more than 600 apps at the behest of international government, with more than 80% believed to be in the China App Store.