Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from the Chinese App Store at the request of the Chinese government, G4Media reports.
WhatsApp and Threads, banned in China – Photo Archive
The platforms, owned by Meta, are no longer accessible to iPhone users in China, the government forced Apple to remove them, citing national security reasons.
“The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered these apps removed from the App Store based on national security concerns” announced the Apple company.
Apple representatives add that they are bound to obey, even if they disagree with the decision.
Meta apps are only removed from the Chinese App Store for iPhone, remaining available in the rest of the world.
Most foreign social platforms were blocked in China, forcing users to resort to VPNs to access the internet freely.
Meanwhile, the United States is preparing to ban TikTok. Specifically, TikTok is getting closer to being banned in the US after the House of Representatives passed a bill requiring ByteDance to sell the platform or face a total ban in the United States. The app's security is questioned in many countries, and some states no longer allow the platform to be used on government devices.
