China is increasing censorship and restricting access to foreign apps, demanding Apple remove WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal from the App Store in China.
China against instant messengers
Strengthening Internet censorship
At the direction of the Chinese authorities, Apple has removed the App Store from its application store in There are several popular instant messengers in China, including WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. This was part of a large-scale program launched by regulators to strengthen the Great Firewall of China and increase control over the country's Internet space.
Registration of applications under supervision
As part of this initiative, the PRC authorities obliged all mobile application developers undergo mandatory state registration by the end of March 2024. Otherwise, their programs will be removed from local versions of the iOS and Android app stores. Thus, in order to continue operating in China, apps must comply with the new licensing and censorship system.
Isolation of the Chinese segment of the Internet
According to experts, these measures will significantly limit the choice of applications for Chinese users, leaving them with predominantly only domestic services. This will widen the gap between the Chinese segment of the Internet and the rest of the world, further isolating Chinese citizens from the global information space.
Retaliation against TikTok
China's move to block American Internet services coincides with attempts by US authorities to ban the Chinese app TikTok on national security grounds. Washington is seeking the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese owner, otherwise the service faces a ban in the United States.
Glossary
- Apple is an American technology corporation, manufacturer of smartphones, tablets and computers.
- WhatsApp is a popular instant messenger for text messaging and multimedia owned by Meta (Facebook).
- Telegram is a cross-platform messenger that provides the exchange of messages and files with a high level of security.
- Signal is an open source messenger that ensures confidentiality of correspondence and security.
- The Great Firewall of China is a set of measures to censor and restrict access to foreign Internet resources in China.
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Discussion of the topic – Ban on Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal in the Chinese App Store: a step towards total censorship?
Apple has removed several popular instant messengers from the Chinese App Store at the request of Chinese authorities. This decision could be another step towards tightening censorship and control on the Internet.
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Анджей
Yes, the Chinese are increasingly isolating themselves from the outside world. First a firewall, now popular instant messengers are being removed. It becomes like a closed zone for communication. 🤐
Катрин
Yes, it's sad to see. I think open exchange of information is very important for progress and understanding between peoples. I hope China will become more open in the future. 🙏
Гжегож
On the other hand, the Chinese government is concerned about national security and it is up to them to decide which applications to allow. But cutting off from global platforms, of course, does not benefit users within the country. 🤔
Вернер
Gentlemen, it seems to me that you are dramatizing the situation. The Chinese have their own analogues of Wechat, VK and others. And with the help of a VPN you can always bypass the blocking. In any case, China's internal affairs are their problem. 🤷♂️
Марыся
I wonder how strictly they will enforce this ban? I don’t think they will completely eliminate the use of Telegram and others. In big cities like Shanghai, many people will definitely use a VPN. 💻
Ганс
Let me tell you this: these measures will indirectly spur the development of VPN services and proxies in China. Where there is demand, there will be supply; prohibitions will not help. 😎 In general, it’s a pity that the world is moving towards greater disunity...
Бруно
This is a big loss for creative and business circles - many used Telegram to communicate with foreign partners and colleagues. WeChat is certainly good, but it will not completely replace it. The authorities are going too far with censorship. 😕
Зигмунд
Eh, young people, you don’t understand... When I was a boy, we didn’t have any of your instant messengers or the Internet! Still, everyone somehow survived. 🧓 These fashionable things do more harm than good. The Chinese authorities are doing the right thing!
Ганс
Sigmund, you are right that people used to do without this. But now the time is different, technology has become a part of life. You can't just give up on progress just because someone doesn't like it. ⌚
Джулия
I agree, prohibitions often lead to the opposite effect. People will look for workarounds and get involved in gray schemes. It is better to regulate than to ban. China risks falling behind in the digital sphere due to its restrictions. 💻🚫
Виктор
Have you ever thought that large IT companies like Apple do this solely for commercial reasons? After all, it is beneficial for them to maintain access to the huge Chinese market, so they obey the demands of the authorities. Money rules the world. 💰
Ярослава
As they say - your own shirt is closer to your body? It is likely that Apple did this for practical reasons. But it’s still a pity that you have to compromise with your conscience for the sake of business. Bans are bad in any case. 👎
Пьер
While some countries are closing down, others are trying to be more open and adhere to the principles of a free Internet. I wonder what this will lead to in the future - to a split of the digital world into zones? In any case, development cannot be stopped. 🌐
Петро
You are all missing the main thing - security and sovereignty are more important than external relations. China protects its interests, this is normal. The West could also learn to put national priorities above market ones. In the end, each country decides for itself what to do! 🇨🇳