(Boursier.com) — Apple has removed several social media outlets, including WhatsApp and Meta Platforms’ Threads, from its app store in China. The iPhone maker also removed the Telegram and Signal messaging services from its store, at Beijing’s request, reports ‘Bloomberg’. Apple, which has consistently adhered to one of the world’s most rigid internet censorship regimes, said the China Cyberspace Administration had ordered the apps to be removed for national security reasons.
“We are obligated to respect the laws of the countries in which we operate, even if we disagree,” an Apple spokesperson told ‘CNN’. “The China Cyberspace Administration ordered the removal of these apps from the China Showcase due to its national security concerns…”.
In August, China required all mobile app developers to register with the government by the end of March or risk ceasing operations. Beijing has banned the use of foreign messaging and social media platforms like WhatsApp for years, using what the industry calls the ‘Great Firewall’. This has helped apps such as Tencent Holdings’ WeChat dominate the local internet, although Chinese users can still use virtual private networks to access foreign media. VPNs are commonly used in China to access content blocked inside the country.
Less sensitive apps with larger Chinese operations such as Duolingo should comply with the latest regulatory licensing regime and remain operational, Rich Bishop, co-founder and CEO of AppInChina, told the agency. “This means that Chinese consumers will be limited to Chinese apps, with a small number of international apps,” says the executive, whose consultancy has received dozens of inquiries from companies on how to stay compliant and publish software in China. “It’s a pretty significant change – so it will, in a sense, further cut off Chinese citizens from the rest of the world.”
The tech giant’s announcement comes amid falling iPhone sales in the world’s second-largest economy. Its smartphone sales fell by 10% in the first quarter of this year, according to IDC.
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