The Chinese Information Ministry has demanded that all mobile app developers register their companies with the government.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced late on Tuesday that apps without correct filings will be punished after the grace period, which will end in March next year, has passed.
Experts think this decision may limit the number of apps and have a significant negative impact on small developers.
Additionally, according to the ministry’s notice, organisations “engaged in internet information services through apps in such fields as news, publishing, education, film and television, and religion should also submit relevant documents.”
The requirement might have an impact on the accessibility of well-known social networking platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram. These apps cannot be used in China, but Chinese citizens can still download them from app stores and use them when they are outside of China.
Tens of thousands of unlicensed mobile games were removed from various app stores in 2020 in China, where it is already mandatory for games to obtain licences before they can be released there.
WeChat, the most widely used online social network in China, announced on Wednesday that the new regulations also apply to mini apps, or programmes that may be used inside of WeChat.
