Apple removes WhatsApp and others from China App Store

Apple Inc. has complied with demands from Beijing to remove several social media services, including Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp and Threads, from its Chinese app store.

This move comes as part of China’s ongoing efforts to tighten internet censorship within its borders.

In addition to WhatsApp and Threads, Apple also removed messaging services Telegram and Signal from its Chinese app store. The Cyberspace Administration of China cited national security concerns as the reason for ordering the removal of these apps.

These removal orders are part of a broader cleanup program initiated by Chinese regulators in 2023, aimed at removing defunct or unregistered apps from domestic iOS and Android stores. The Chinese government had previously asked all mobile app developers to register with the government by the end of March or cease operations.

China has long restricted the use of foreign messaging and social media platforms through its Great Firewall, promoting domestic alternatives like Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s WeChat. Despite these restrictions, Chinese users have utilized virtual private networks to access foreign media.