On Friday, Apple announced the removal of Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China following directives from the Chinese government citing concerns related to national security.
While other Meta apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger remained accessible, WhatsApp and Threads were no longer available for download from the Chinese App Store, as confirmed by checks conducted by Reuters. Additionally, numerous popular apps developed by Western companies, including YouTube and X, remained unaffected and accessible for download.
The specific reasons behind the Chinese authorities’ national security concerns regarding WhatsApp and Threads were not immediately disclosed.
In response to inquiries, Apple stated via email to Reuters that the Cyberspace Administration of China had mandated the removal of these apps from the China storefront due to national security apprehensions. Apple emphasized its commitment to adhering to local laws, even if it disagrees with them.
Meta declined to provide comments and redirected inquiries to Apple, while the Cyberspace Administration of China did not respond immediately to requests for comments.
Apple clarified that despite the removal from the China App Store, WhatsApp and Threads remained available for download on its other platforms. Chinese consumers with an iCloud account registered in another country could still access and download the apps from Apple’s App Stores in those regions.
Industry experts speculated that the government’s order regarding WhatsApp and Threads could be linked to a regulation implemented in August, which mandated all apps available in China to register with the government or face removal. The deadline for registration was set at the end of March, and the regulations officially came into effect on April 1.
This isn’t the first instance of Apple removing apps from its China App Store. In 2017, The New York Times news app was removed due to violations of local regulations amid escalating news censorship in China. Similarly, last year, Apple removed several ChatGPT-like apps amidst Beijing’s efforts to establish local regulations concerning generative artificial intelligence (AI) services.
The removal of WhatsApp and Threads from the China App Store was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal.
