The company stated that the Chinese government instructed it to remove two apps owned by Meta for “national security” reasons
Apple has eliminated WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese App Store following an order from the Chinese government citing “national security” concerns.
The removal was confirmed by Apple, and the decision to withdraw the two apps, both owned by Meta (the parent company of Facebook), was made under the direction of the Cyberspace Administration of China. This agency oversees and censors China’s tightly controlled internet and online content.
In an email statement to Reuters, Apple stated, “The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns. We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree.”
China’s Great Firewall prevents access to many foreign apps and websites, including WhatsApp, within the country. However, individuals can often circumvent these restrictions using VPNs. Apple users in China can still download WhatsApp and Threads if they have iCloud accounts registered outside of China.
The ruling Communist Party in China continues to increase its oversight of internet usage, implementing extensive censorship of sensitive topics on social media and monitoring communications. Additionally, the government has proposed policies aimed at reducing the amount of time children spend online.
The specific national security concerns that prompted the administration’s actions were not specified.
The decision to remove WhatsApp and Threads precedes a US congressional vote on a bill that would require the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban from the US market.
Lawmakers pushing for the ban or transfer of TikTok’s ownership away from China have cited national security concerns regarding China’s influence on the American public and the retention of US user data.