Apple announced on Friday that it had complied with a directive from the Chinese government to remove Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China, citing national security concerns.
While other Meta apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger remained accessible, WhatsApp and Threads were taken down. Reuters confirmed this during a check on Friday morning. Several other popular apps from Western companies, including YouTube and X, remained available for download.
The precise reasons for the security concerns raised by Chinese authorities regarding WhatsApp and Threads were not immediately disclosed. Apple emphasized its commitment to complying with local laws in the regions it operates, even if it doesn’t necessarily align with its own stance.
The Cyberspace Administration of China did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment. Apple clarified that while WhatsApp and Threads were removed from the China App Store, they remain accessible for download in other regions through its other storefronts.
Chinese users adept in technology can access these apps via Apple’s App Stores in other countries if they possess an iCloud account registered there.
Some industry experts specializing in China’s tech sector suggested that the directive against WhatsApp and Threads could be linked to a new regulation implemented in August, requiring all apps available in China to register with the government or face removal. The deadline for registration was the end of March, with the regulations taking effect on April 1.
This isn’t the first time Apple has removed apps from its China App Store. In 2017, it removed The New York Times news app for allegedly violating local regulations, coinciding with increasing news censorship in China. The app remains inaccessible on Apple’s China App Store.
Last year, Apple also pulled a number of ChatGPT-like apps when Beijing was formulating local regulations concerning generative artificial intelligence services.
The removal of WhatsApp and Threads from the China App Store was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal.
