Apple’s Tension with China: Removing WhatsApp and Threatening TikTok

Last month, the Chinese government ordered Apple to remove WhatsApp and Threads from its app store, citing national security concerns. This is not the first time Western platforms have been censored in China; Gmail, YouTube, Snapchat, and Spotify have also been blocked in the past. While some users manage to access these platforms through virtual private networks, being removed from the app store may prevent this.

Apple has stated that they are obligated to follow the laws of the countries where they operate, even if they disagree with them. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has been blocked in China since 2009. This move by the Chinese government comes at a time when US policymakers are debating a potential ban on TikTok, another popular Chinese app, due to concerns about data harvesting and political influence.

Tim Cook visited China last month to open a new store in Shanghai and meet with top policymakers. This visit came after a decline in iPhone sales earlier this year. China is an important market for Apple both in terms of manufacturing and consumers. Additionally, Chinese chipmakers are planning to create chip production lines to supply processors to local smartphone manufacturers, which could impact Apple’s business in the country.