China Orders Apple to Remove WhatsApp and Threads from App Store

Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from its China App Store following a government order citing national security concerns. Meta-owned apps, including Signal and Telegram, have also been removed. The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps, but the reasons for targeting WhatsApp and Threads specifically are unclear. This is not the first time Apple has removed apps at the direction of China’s internet regulator, and the country's censorship decisions can be arbitrary and inconsistent.