Apple recently announced that it had removed the Meta-owned apps WhatsApp and Threads from its app store in China at the request of the Chinese government due to national security concerns. The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of the apps, and Apple complied with the request, stating that they are obligated to follow the laws of the countries where they operate. The Chinese government reportedly found content on the apps that was inflammatory towards China’s president, Xi Jinping, in violation of cybersecurity laws.
In addition to WhatsApp and Threads, several other global messaging apps such as Signal and Telegram were also removed from Apple’s App Store in China. This move has escalated the ongoing technology war between the United States and China. In the United States, lawmakers have been preparing to vote on a bill that would require ByteDance, the Chinese internet company that owns TikTok, to sell the popular video app or have it banned in the United States. There are concerns that TikTok poses a national security threat due to its ties to China.
The actions taken by Apple and Meta in China are part of a broader trend of increasing tensions between the United States and China over technology issues. The White House has been working to restrict Beijing’s access to advanced technologies that could be used in war, as well as extending restrictions to American dollars that finance the development of such technologies in China. China has also taken measures to block American websites and restrict access to certain technologies from US companies.
Apple has been particularly affected by the rising tensions between the US and China, as it relies heavily on the Chinese market for its products and services. Over the years, Apple has complied with various demands from Beijing, including blocking apps and building a data center in China to store iCloud information for Chinese users. As a result of the strained relationship between the two countries, Apple has started diversifying its supply chain and expanding its manufacturing operations in countries like India and Vietnam.
In contrast, Meta’s impact from these developments in China is expected to be less direct, as many of its apps were already banned in the country. However, Meta does have business relationships with Chinese companies that advertise on its platforms like Instagram and Facebook. There has been ongoing tension between Meta and Apple, particularly regarding privacy issues and data tracking on Apple devices. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has criticized Apple’s privacy guidelines as overly restrictive.
In the US, efforts to address concerns about TikTok’s ties to China have gained momentum, with House lawmakers set to vote on a bill that would force ByteDance to sell the app. The bill is part of a legislative package that includes provisions related to foreign aid for countries like Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. President Biden has indicated that he would sign TikTok legislation into law if it reaches his desk.
