Apple has a problem
China’s civil servants are no longer allowed to use iPhones
09/06/2023 10:24 am
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Beijing bans officials from using foreign equipment for work. This is a heavy blow, and not just for Apple. The move could be in retaliation from the Chinese government.
China’s government has ordered officials in central government agencies not to use Apple iPhones and other foreign-made devices for work or bring them to the office. This is reported by the “Wall Street Journal” (WSJ), citing people familiar with the matter.
The officials would have received the instruction from their superiors in chat groups or meetings at the workplace. According to the newspaper, the measure is a further step towards reducing dependence on foreign technology and increasing cyber security.
The ban could hit foreign tech companies hard. An example: Apple dominates the market for high-end smartphones in China. The company generates almost 20 percent of its global sales there. According to the WSJ, neither Apple nor Chinese authorities have responded to a request.
Beijing has restricted the use of iPhones by government officials in some agencies for years. But the new arrangement goes much further, it said. The move could also be a retaliatory measure: in the United States there are restrictions on officials using smartphones made by the Chinese manufacturer Huawei and the Chinese short video app Tiktok.