Reports that Apple is facing strict regulations on app distribution from the Chinese government, the choice is to expel X and Instagram or face legal punishment

A rule has been introduced in China that prohibits the distribution of apps that are not approved by the government, and it is reported that Apple is looking for a way to circumvent this rule. Apple reportedly met with Chinese authorities and expressed concerns about the impact of the new rules.

Apple's Latest China Challenge: A Crackdown That Could Shrink Its App Store - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-china-met-to-discuss-beijings-crackdown-on-western-apps-2219afcb

Apple fights to preserve Chinese App Store loophole - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/29/23895650/apple-app-store-loophole-china-firewall-regulation-licensing

Until now, Chinese iPhone users have been able to bypass the Great Firewall , China's massive internet censorship system, and download Instagram, X, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc. by accessing Apple IDs outside China via VPN. was doing. In particular, apps such as X were said to have been used to spread regulatory information related to the new coronavirus infection in China and protests against the government.

Therefore, in August 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of the State Council of China announced regulations requiring all mobile app providers in the country to submit business details to the government and register the apps distributed. Did.

Under this rule, providers who distribute apps that are not registered after March 2024 will be penalized. In other words, unless app developers submit a business application to the government and are registered, they will no longer be able to offer foreign apps on the App Store in China.

App developers outside of China are unlikely to file a business application with the Chinese government due to the risk of being required to comply with data transfer and censorship requirements if the application is registered. Therefore, Apple has no choice but to ``exclude the app developer from the App Store'' or ``accept legal punishment.'' According to the Wall Street Journal, Chinese authorities have actually told Apple that unregistered foreign apps need to be removed from the App Store.

China is an important market for Apple, accounting for about one-fifth of its sales, so it's no wonder Apple would try to resist new rules from MIIT. Apple has already met with Chinese officials and discussed concerns about this rule multiple times.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple declined to comment. MIIT and the Cyberspace Administration, China's internet regulator, also did not respond to requests for comment.