Apple May Have to Remove Major Social Media Apps Like Facebook and Twitter From China App Store Due to New Registration Rules

Apple may have to remove popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter from the App Store in China due to new policy changes.
The policy requires apps to be registered in China, which many major social media apps are not. Apps must be removed by July.
Over 1,000 foreign apps on the App Store are unregistered and face removal. Apps like VPNs help users circumvent China's internet censorship.
Apple has met with Chinese officials to share concerns, but China emphasizes Apple must comply with the new rules.
In the past, Apple has been forced to remove thousands of unlicensed games in China due to policy changes.

9to5mac.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/6/2023

China bans govt officials from using iPhones for work -WSJ

China has reportedly ordered officials at central government agencies to not use Apple's iPhones and other foreign-branded devices for work or bring them into the office, potentially impacting foreign companies operating in China as tensions between the US and China escalate.

9/6/2023

Apple Falls on Report That China Agencies Are Barring iPhone Use

Apple Inc. experienced a significant decline in its stock price after reports emerged that Chinese government agencies have banned the use of iPhones and other foreign-branded devices by their staff.

9/13/2023

Apple's Heavy Reliance on China Leaves It Exposed Amid Rising Tensions

Apple is facing growing troubles in China, with tensions rising between the US and China, the ban on government employees using iPhones, and China's economic woes, prompting the tech giant to shift its focus to India as a potential market for growth.

9/13/2023

White House Criticizes China's iPhone Ban as 'Inappropriate Retaliation'

The White House has called the bans on iPhones in China by government agencies an "inappropriate retaliation" and refers to it as aggressive behavior from the People's Republic of China.

9/29/2023

China to Tighten App Store Rules, Threatening Access to Instagram, Facebook for Apple Users

China is considering closing a loophole in its "Great Firewall" that allows citizens to access forbidden apps through Apple's App Store, potentially eliminating popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube from the Chinese version.

10/3/2023

Apple Tightens App Rules in China, Now Requiring Government License Before Release

Apple has started requiring new apps on its China App Store to provide proof of a Chinese government license, bringing it in line with local rivals and tightening state regulations.

10/3/2023

Apple Complies with China's App Law, Registering Local Firms for Facebook and Others

Apple has complied with a Chinese app law by requiring developers to have a registered local company in the country, potentially impacting social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in China.