Apple confirmed that it removed the Meta-owned apps WhatsApp and Threads from its app store in China on Friday at the government’s request. This move could potentially heighten the ongoing technology conflict between the United States and China.
The tech giant stated that China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration, mandated the removal of WhatsApp and Threads from the app store due to national security concerns. Apple emphasized that they complied with the directive because they are required to adhere to the laws of the countries where they operate, even if they may not agree with them.
A Meta spokesperson deferred comments to Apple, and reports of the app removal were initially covered by The Wall Street Journal.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the Chinese government discovered inflammatory content about China’s president, Xi Jinping, on WhatsApp and Threads, which violated the country’s cybersecurity regulations. The specifics of the content were not disclosed.
On the same day, several other global messaging apps were also removed from Apple’s App Store in China, including Signal and Telegram. Signal did not provide an immediate comment, and Telegram did not respond to requests for comment.
These actions have thrust Apple and Meta into an escalating tech battle between the United States and China. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the House of Representatives was gearing up to vote on legislation that would compel ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the country, citing national security concerns due to its ties to China.
The White House has also been working to limit Beijing’s access to advanced technologies and restrict American dollars financing tech development in China. In response, China has imposed bans on certain U.S. tech products.
Despite being available in app stores, WhatsApp and Threads had limited usage in China compared to local apps like WeChat. Chinese users could access WhatsApp through VPNs.
WhatsApp had garnered 15 million downloads on iPhones in China since 2017, while Threads had been downloaded 470,000 times, according to Appfigures.
Apple, heavily reliant on the Chinese market, has faced challenges navigating tensions between the U.S. and China. The company has complied with various Chinese government requests over the years, including app blocks and data center construction.
As relations soured between the two countries, Apple diversified its supply chain and shifted some manufacturing to India and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Meta’s potential fallout from the app removal in China is expected to be less direct. The company generates revenue from Chinese advertisers on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
The relationship between Meta and Apple has been strained, with Apple implementing stricter privacy measures that impact Meta’s ad business. Mark Zuckerberg has criticized Apple’s privacy guidelines.
In the U.S., efforts to address TikTok’s ties to China have gained momentum, with legislators preparing to vote on legislation that could compel ByteDance to sell the app.
