Mark Zuckerberg Apple has removed Apple’s social media apps WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store. Major action has been taken on both these social media platforms of Meta in China. The Chinese government has described both these apps of Mark Zuckerberg as a big threat to national security. According to the reports coming out, instructions were issued to Apple to remove these two apps from its App Store, after which Apple has removed these two apps from the App Store in China. However, the government has banned Meta’s other apps Facebook, Instagram and Messanger. These three apps have not been removed from the Apple App Store at present.
Ban imposed due to national security reasons
Recently, the Pakistan government has also banned Elon Musk’s social media platform X due to security reasons. According to the reports coming out, the Chinese government has accused both these social media platforms of Meta of hindering national security. On removing these two Meta apps from its platform, Apple has said that China’s Cyberspace Administration has issued an order to remove them. However, it is not yet clear how WhatsApp and Threads were becoming a threat to China’s national security. WhatsApp is the world’s most used instant messaging app.
Apple said in its statement that we have to follow the rules of the country where we work. Even if we disagree on something. However, no comment has been issued by Mark Zuckerberg’s company Meta in this matter. Also, the Chinese government has not told how these two apps were hindering national security.
These apps are not banned in other countries
Apple said that both these apps of Meta will be available for download on App Store in countries other than China. At the same time, some experts believe that due to the new rules implemented in China, action has been taken on these two apps. The Chinese administration had given the deadline to register all the apps till March 31. Action is being taken against those apps which have not registered with the Chinese government.
This is not the first time that the Chinese government has banned an app. Earlier, many apps with generative AI features like ChatGPT have been banned in China.