In recent news, Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese app store after being ordered to do so by the government. This move was taken due to national security concerns, according to the Wall Street Journal. It’s not the first time Western platforms have been censored in China – Gmail, YouTube, Snapchat, and Spotify have also been blocked in the past.
While some users may still be able to access these platforms through virtual private networks, the removal from the app store may prevent this. Apple has stated that they are obligated to follow the laws of the countries where they operate, even if they disagree with them. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has been blocked in China since 2009.
The government’s order to Apple comes at a time when US policymakers are debating a potential ban on TikTok, another popular Chinese app, due to concerns about data harvesting and political influence. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook visited China last month to open a new store in Shanghai and meet with top policymakers. This visit came after a decline in iPhone sales earlier this year. China is an important market for Apple both in terms of manufacturing and consumers. Additionally, Chinese chipmakers are planning to create chip production lines to supply processors to local smartphone manufacturers which could impact Apple’s business in the country.