Apple has removed two Meta apps from the App Store in China at the request of the Chinese government. WhatsApp and Threads have been made unavailable in the App Store, preventing new installs for messaging and social apps.
Why Apple removed both apps in China
The Wall Street Journal first reported this development on Thursday evening in the United States. The WSJ claims that China’s top internet regulator has asked Apple to remove the Threads and WhatsApp apps from availability to iPhone users in China.
Apple tells 9to5Mac that the Cyberspace Administration of China cites national security concerns to justify its request.
“We are obligated to follow the laws of the countries in which we operate, even if we disagree,” Apple says. “The China Cyberspace Administration ordered the removal of these apps from the China Storefront due to its national security concerns. These applications remain available for download on all other showcases where they appear.
The immediate risk of not meeting legal requirements, according to Apple, is the possibility of closure of the App Store in China.
VPN required
Threads has been available in China since last July, when it debuted as a top five app. China bans access to Meta services, so it’s somewhat surprising that Threads lasted almost a year. It’s also surprising that WhatsApp has been available for so long.
Technically, metaservices are still accessible through VPN tools which can spoof locations. Presumably, iPhone users will still be able to access services with VPN tools if the apps are already installed.
Apple regularly responds to requests from China to remove software from the App Store, including VPN, news and social media apps, when required by law.
TikTok Calendar
The timing of this development is interesting, however, as Apple CEO Tim Cook had just visited the region for a regular visit. While the TikTok divestment bill appears to be stalled in Congress for now, China calling Threads and WhatsApp national security concerns appears to be one answer.
WhatsApp and Threads could be the first of many similar apps to be banned by China by this summer. That’s when a deadline for unregistered foreign applications would come into effect.
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