Apple, which has consistently complied with one of the world’s most rigid Internet censorship regimes, said the Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the apps removed over national security concerns.
Apple Inc. removed social media services including Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese app store, responding to orders from Beijing to close more loopholes in the country’s longstanding internet firewall.
In August, China asked all mobile app developers to register with the government by the end of March, or cease operating. Less sensitive apps with more substantial Chinese businesses such as Duolingo are expected to comply with the latest regulatory licensing regime to remain operational, said Rich Bishop, co-founder and chief executive officer of AppInChina.
The action against the American tech services comes as the US government is taking steps toward a ban on TikTok, the hit video app from Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that it would carry out supervision work on those filings from April to June, and to take action against unregistered apps.The MIIT move was regarded as another step by Beijing to tighten controls across its cyberspace, forcing internet companies to scrub information considered politically sensitive.The Wall Street Journal was first to report the app removal. A Meta spokesperson referred Bloomberg News to Apple’s statement.
China Cyberspace Administration Of China Meta Platforms Signal Social Media Telegram Threads US-China Whatsapp Government Software
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