Apple pulls Threads and WhatsApp from the App Store after demands from Beijing

In accordance with directives from Chinese authorities, Apple said that it has withdrawn Meta’s social networking program Threads and messaging service WhatsApp from the Chinese program store.

Chinese authorities withdrew the applications from the marketplace on Friday, citing unidentified national security reasons. Tensions between the US and China over trade, technology, and national security have increased since their dismissal.

A ban on TikTok has been threatened by the US because of national security concerns. However, although millions of Americans use TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, applications like WhatsApp and Threads are not widely utilized in China.