2024-04-19 11:47:17
A Apple removed some popular apps in the West from the App Store in China. Victims of a determination by the country’s internet regulatory body, software such as WhatsApp and the Threads (both from Meta), as well as the Telegram and the Signalare no longer available for download there.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple claims that the Chinese government cited national security concerns to determine the removal of the software. “We are obliged to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when they displease us”, said Maçã.
According to the The New York Timesa person familiar with the situation claimed that the Chinese government found content regarding President Xi Jinping that is “inflammatory” and “violates the country’s cybersecurity laws” — although the actual content of these messages has not been clarified.
With the removal of the applications, it will now be necessary for Chinese people to have access to the content of these applications — this is for those who have already purchased such applications from the App Store at some point and downloaded them on their devices.
The issue involving Apple and China is quite delicate. The fear of retaliation in a country where a large part of the iPhone production chain is located — which might even involve the closure of the App Store there — leaves the company in a big corner in such situations.
Other Meta apps, such as Facebook, Messenger and Instagram, curiously remain available on the Chinese App Store.
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