TrendingVideosIndia
Opinions | CommentEditorialsThe MiddleLetters to the EditorReflections
Sports
State | Himachal PradeshPunjabJammu & KashmirHaryanaChhattisgarhMadhya PradeshRajasthanUttarakhandUttar Pradesh
City | ChandigarhAmritsarJalandharLudhianaDelhiPatialaBathindaShaharnama
World | United StatesPakistan
Diaspora
Features | The Tribune ScienceTime CapsuleSpectrumIn-DepthTravelFood
Business | My MoneyAutoZone
UPSC | Exam ScheduleExam Mentor
Don't Miss
Advertisement

Apple pulls Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from App Store in China

Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium

Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Yearly Premium ₹999 ₹349/Year
Yearly Premium $49 $24.99/Year
Advertisement

San Francisco, April 19

Advertisement

Apple on Friday said that it removed Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China at the request of the Chinese government.

Advertisement

As per the iPhone maker, the country’s internet regulator Cyberspace Administration of China had ordered the applications’ removal from the App Store because of ‘national security concerns’, reports The Financial Times.

“We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree,” Apple was quoted as saying.

According to the report, Meta’s other communication platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger are still available on the App Store in the country.

Advertisement

According to chief executive Rich Bishop of the leading international app publisher in China, AppInChina, the apps were delisted after the Chinese government’s internet regulator and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced a deadline of April 1 for app developers to register with the government.

In China, Apple saw a double-digit decline in overall smartphone unit sales in the first six weeks of 2024.

iPhone sales fell 24 per cent over the period due to stiff competition, according to Counterpoint Research.

“Although the iPhone 15 is a great device, it has no significant upgrades from the previous version, so consumers feel fine holding on to the older-generation iPhones for now,” said Senior Analyst Mengmeng Zhang.

Advertisement
Tags :
ChinaFacebookInstagramMetaWhatsApp
Show comments
Advertisement