US tech giant Apple recently removed two popular platforms owned by Meta, WhatsApp and Threads app from its own app download site App Store. However, only the Chinese branch of the App Store has made this change. Users in other regions are still able to download these two apps.
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The US tech giant said the Chinese government gave them the order due to national security concerns. In China, WhatsApp and Threads have been shut down, but Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and other social media apps are still available in the App Store. Even apps like YouTube and Twitter (now X) platforms are still being downloaded. So it is not clear to us exactly how WhatsApp and Threads became a national threat to the country.
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However, Apple said in an emailed statement that China's Cyberspace Administration has ordered the removal of both WhatsApp and Threads apps from its storefront in China due to national security concerns. We are obliged to comply with the laws of the countries with which we do business. Even if you don't agree with the decision taken by the government, you have to act according to their instructions.
Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and senior officials of China's Cyberspace Administration have yet to comment on the matter. As a result, the real reason behind this decision is not understood.
Earlier, Chinese authorities had ordered Apple to remove certain apps from its application download site several times. According to Chinese experts, a new law was passed in China in August last year. Perhaps the most recent incident is related to this act.
In fact, the Chinese government announced last year that all apps used in their country must go through a government registration process. Those who do not follow this rule will be removed. In this case, the companies were given a deadline of March-end to complete the registration. Then this law came into effect from last April 1.