Apple’s Obligation to Follow Chinese Law Leads to Removal of WhatsApp and Threads: Implications for U.S. Policymakers and Apple’s Business in the Country.

Last month, Apple removed WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese app store following an order from the Chinese government. The move was due to national security concerns, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. 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 have managed to access these platforms through virtual private networks (VPNs), their removal from the app store may make it more difficult for users to continue using them. 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.

The government’s order to Apple 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. Apple’s CEO 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.