China dictates what's allowed on its country's internet and App Store
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Apple deleted Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads apps from the Chinese App Store after government officials raised national security concerns.
China's App Store culling continues after removing 30,000 games over the past four years, followed by another 94,000 games, 44,000 apps, and then 100 apps like ChatGPT. The Chinese government is the driving force behind app removals, but a more significant removal from the App Store took place on Thursday evening.
The Chinese government has ordered Apple to remove WhatsApp and Threads from the App Store, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Chinese cyber officials say the apps must be removed due to national security concerns.
It's no secret that China wants incredible control over the information available on the Internet to its citizens. The country is known for enforcing rules in the name of security to censor unwanted information and technology.
Apple has no choice in the matter because the company must comply with local laws, even if they conflict with the company's core values. Otherwise, Apple could face serious problems in its supply chain and a large part of its market if it is forced out of China.
Facebook has been blocked in China since at least 2009. Owned by Meta Threads, it launched in the country in 2023 and has been available since then, but use of WhatsApp appears to have been blocked since at least 2017.
Once apps are removed from the App Store, users will no longer be able to download Threads or WhatsApp. This means there's no easy way to access these apps, even with a VPN.
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