Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner seems on following a dialog on psychological well being, throughout a spousal program on the final day of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week at Apple Park in San Francisco, California, on November 17, 2023.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Pictures
Apple on Friday stated it pulled a number of messaging apps like Meta‘s WhatsApp and Threads from the App Retailer in China after the nation’s authorities ordered the removing, citing safety considerations.
The transfer additional escalates tensions between the U.S. and China over expertise and different insurance policies. In latest days, Congress has been seeking to fast-track laws to push TikTok’s Chinese language mum or dad firm ByteDance to divest the social media app. The Home might vote on a brand new invoice as quickly as Saturday, and U.S. President Joe Biden has stated he’ll signal it into legislation if it reaches his desk.
“We’re obligated to observe the legal guidelines within the international locations the place we function, even after we disagree,” Apple stated in an announcement. “The Our on-line world Administration of China ordered the removing of those apps from the China storefront based mostly on their nationwide safety considerations.”
Different messaging platforms like Sign and Telegram have been additionally faraway from China’s App Retailer.
The strained relationship between the 2 international locations has additionally pushed Apple to attempt to diversify its provide chain outdoors of China. The corporate has been increasing its manufacturing operations in different nations like India and Vietnam.
China has a protracted historical past of proscribing entry to content material from the U.S. on-line, however some platforms like WhatsApp and Threads have traditionally been permitted via its App Retailer. These platforms usually are not as in style with Chinese language customers as others like WeChat, however their removing reduces the variety of methods they will talk with folks outdoors of the nation.
Meta directed CNBC to Apple for remark. Sign and Telegram didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
