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