Apple Says China Ordered Removal of WhatsApp, Threads From App Store

Core Points - Apple has removed Meta's WhatsApp and Threads, as well as Telegram and Signal, from its App Store in China due to a directive from the Cyberspace Administration of China citing national security concerns [1] - Other Meta applications like Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger remain available in the App Store in China, while the removed apps are still accessible in Hong Kong and Macau [1] - Many foreign apps, including those mentioned, were already blocked on Chinese networks by the "Great Firewall" and could only be accessed using proxy tools [2] Regulatory Context - China is expanding its ban on the use of Apple's iPhone by government employees, with various agencies instructing workers to refrain from bringing foreign devices to work [2] - New regulations from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology could restrict Apple from offering many foreign apps in its App Store, allowing only apps from operators registered with the government [2] - The regulations are part of China's broader efforts to enhance data-security measures and close loopholes in the Great Firewall that permit the download of Western social media apps via VPNs [3] Market Impact - Over the past decade, popular Western social media apps have been downloaded more than 170 million times in China [3] - Mobile app stores operated by companies like Tencent and Xiaomi have begun blocking new app publishers that do not comply with regulatory disclosures [3]