WhatsApp & Threads pulled from Apple App Store in China

Apple has removed Meta-owned apps WhatsApp and Threads from the China App Store after government officials claimed national security concerns.

The App Store culling continues in China after 30,000 games, then an additional 94,000 games, 44,000 apps, then 100 ChatGPT-like apps were removed over the past four years. The government in China is the driving force behind these app removals, but a more significant App Store removal took place on Thursday night.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Apple was given orders by the government in China to remove WhatsApp and Threads from the App Store. China's cyberspace officials claim the apps needed to be removed based on national security concerns.

It isn't a big secret that China wants incredible control over information available online to its citizens. The country is notorious for applying rules in the name of security to censor unwanted information and technologies.

Apple has little choice in the matter as the company must comply with local laws even when they contradict the company's core values. Otherwise, Apple could face significant problems with its supply chain and a significant portion of its market if it is forced out of China.

Facebook has been blocked from use in China since at least 2009. The Meta-owned Threads launched in the country in 2023 and has been available since, but WhatsApp has seemingly been blocked from use since at least 2017.

With the apps pulled from the App Store, users will no longer be able to download Threads or WhatsApp. That means there isn't an easy way to access these apps, even with a VPN.

18 Comments

igorsky 775 comments · 9 Years

About 7 months ago

But by all means let’s continue to allow ByteDance, Temu and SHEIN continue to make money hand over fist in the US App Store and collect all the data they want.

blastdoor 3585 comments · 15 Years

Corporations are dictatorships run by all powerful CEOs held loosely in check by a board. China is kind of like that, too. So I imagine it’s more comfortable, in some ways, for corporations to deal with the Chinese government than it is for them to deal with a democratic government like the EU. Maybe that explains why Apple quickly, and without the slightest complaint, does whatever Xi tells them to do, but goes kicking and screaming when it’s the EU.

Not that I agree with the EU on most things— I don’t. But I do recognize the democratic legitimacy of the EU, which in the long run means the EU is far better than china.

Roderikus 56 comments · 3 Years

“ Apple quickly, and without the slightest complaint, does whatever Xi tells them to do”
Isn’t that the Apple, headed by the principle person that became embedded by Xi via his Board Chairmanship of Tsinghua Business University to be slightly less principle when it comes to Chinese policies ?

danox 3437 comments · 11 Years

blastdoor said:

Corporations are dictatorships run by all powerful CEOs held loosely in check by a board. China is kind of like that, too. So I imagine it’s more comfortable, in some ways, for corporations to deal with the Chinese government than it is for them to deal with a democratic government like the EU. Maybe that explains why Apple quickly, and without the slightest complaint, does whatever Xi tells them to do, but goes kicking and screaming when it’s the EU.

Not that I agree with the EU on most things— I don’t. But I do recognize the democratic legitimacy of the EU, which in the long run means the EU is far better than china.

Guess what hot shot Apple anywhere in the world is going to comply (eventually) to what the local laws say if they want sell or make anything in that country. all governments around world don't want real encryption all want to censor the populace, and like most corporations and people in general don't anyone speaking out on certain topics that bring discomfort, where have you been under a rock?

The EU has the same goals help themselves within their sphere of influence.

danox said:

blastdoor said:

Corporations are dictatorships run by all powerful CEOs held loosely in check by a board. China is kind of like that, too. So I imagine it’s more comfortable, in some ways, for corporations to deal with the Chinese government than it is for them to deal with a democratic government like the EU. Maybe that explains why Apple quickly, and without the slightest complaint, does whatever Xi tells them to do, but goes kicking and screaming when it’s the EU.

Not that I agree with the EU on most things— I don’t. But I do recognize the democratic legitimacy of the EU, which in the long run means the EU is far better than china.

Guess what hot shot Apple anywhere in the world is going to comply (eventually) to what the local laws say if they want sell or make anything in that country. all governments around world don't want real encryption all want to censor the populace, and like most corporations and people in general don't anyone speaking out on certain topics that bring discomfort, where have you been under a rock?

The EU has the same goals help themselves within their sphere of influence.

I don’t think the EU — or most other democratically elected governments — have the same goals as the current leaders of China. That’s a huge false equivalence.

Your pal,

Hot Shot