Apple Inc. said it removed Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese app store after the country’s Internet regulator ruled the services posed a risk to the country’s security.
The order follows a cleanup program initiated by Chinese regulators in 2023 that was intended to remove many defunct or unregistered apps from domestic iOS and Android stores. The lawsuit against the American technology services comes because the US government takes steps towards banning TikTok, the successful video app from Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. US politicians have also cited national security concerns of their push to force the corporate to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner or face a ban within the US market.
“We are obliged to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even if we disagree. “The Cyberspace Administration of China has ordered the removal of these apps from the Chinese store due to its national security concerns,” Apple said in a press release. “These apps will continue to be available for download on all other storefronts where they appear.”
Foreign social media platforms like WhatsApp were already largely inaccessible from China without tools to avoid Beijing’s Great Firewall, equivalent to virtual private networks. Removing these apps will make it tougher for users throughout the country to view content on these international platforms.
In August, China required all mobile app developers to register with the federal government by the top of March, a move Beijing interpreted as an try and crack down on phone scams and scams. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that it might conduct monitoring work on these registrations and take motion against unregistered apps from April to June. App developers would also should arrange and improve mechanisms for coping with “illegal information”.
The MIIT move was one other move by Beijing to tighten controls across its cyberspace and force domestic and foreign corporations to dam information deemed politically sensitive. Beyond apps, web sites and large-language AI models are also subject to stricter content restrictions.
China’s actions come because the TikTok divestment bill is predicted to be included in a quickly implemented aid package for Ukraine and Israel that Congress is predicted to vote on this Saturday.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report the removal. A Meta spokesperson referred to Apple’s statement to Bloomberg News.
China is a key nation for the iPhone, its largest consumer market outside the U.S. and its most significant manufacturing base. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook visited the country earlier this 12 months and emphasized the country’s importance to his company. Apple has long stated that it must follow local laws to effectively operate its App Store in numerous countries.
