Friday saw Apple announcing that, at the Chinese government’s directive and citing national security concerns, it had banned Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp and Threads from the Chinese App Store.
Reuters checked on Friday morning and found that other Meta applications, such Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, were still available. It was also possible to download a large number of other well-known programs created by Western businesses, such as YouTube and X.
According to Apple, “the removal of these apps from the China storefront was ordered by the Cyberspace Administration of China due to their national security concerns,” a statement was sent electronically to Reuters.
“We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree,” the statement said.
