Apple has recently removed WhatsApp and Instagram Threads from its Chinese app store following a government order. This decision was made after the top internet regulator in China asked Apple to remove the two apps due to national security concerns. While WhatsApp has been blocked in China since 2017, its parent company Meta has been blocked since 2009. Western platforms like Gmail, YouTube, Snapchat, and Spotify have also been censored in China.
Despite some users finding ways to access these platforms through virtual private networks, being removed from the app store may prevent this. Apple spokesperson mentioned that they are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where they operate, even when they disagree. The Chinese government’s direction to Apple comes at a time when US policymakers are debating a potential ban on TikTok due to concerns about data harvesting and political influence.
In January, Chinese chipmakers planned to create chip production lines to supply processors to local smartphone makers, which could impact Apple as it benefits from tight export restrictions. With over 2 billion users globally, WhatsApp is a popular messaging app while Instagram Threads with over 130 million users was launched in July. As one of the world’s largest technology companies and with significant operations in China as both a manufacturing and consumer market, Apple presents a complex landscape for its operations in the country.
