Apple imposes new restrictions on apps in China
Apple has begun requiring new apps to display proof of a Chinese government licence before their release on its China App Store, according to a report from The Economic Times.
This action is consistent with the policies adopted by local competitors years ago in response to tightening state regulations. The new policy is anticipated to assist Apple in complying with Chinese app laws and regulations, which require all app stores and app developers to submit an “app filing” containing business information to regulators.
This action follows China’s August release of a new rule requiring all app stores and app developers to submit a “app filing” containing business information to the regulators, which further tightened the country’s supervision of mobile apps. Chinese authorities have stressed that Apple “must strictly implement” these regulations. According to reports, the adjustments are being implemented to “crack down on online fraud, pornography, and the dissemination of information that violates China’s strict censorship rules.
In order to operate legally in China, Apple must follow a number of restrictions. The necessity to retain data pertaining to Chinese users within China is one of the regulations that is considered to be of the utmost importance. Apple has also been ordered by the Chinese government to remove from its App Store any applications that the Chinese government deems to be unsuitable. In addition to this, Apple is under the obligation to provide the relevant authorities with a “app filing” that contains information regarding the company’s operations.
How long has Apple been operating in China?
Since the beginning of the 2010s, Apple has maintained a presence in China. In July of 2008, the first Apple store to open on the Chinese mainland was located in the Sanlitun neighborhood of Beijing. On the mainland of China, there were 43 Apple stores as of the year 2022, making it the second most of any country in the world. Only the United States has more of them. The Apple iPhone 13 held an eight percent share of the market in China during the month of January 2022.
How has Apple’s relationship with China changed over time?
China and Apple have had a complicated history. Since the beginning of the 2010s, Apple has been doing business in China. As of 2022, there were 43 Apple shops in mainland China, which was the second most in the world. The US has only more. Apple has had to follow a number of rules in China, such as having to store data from Chinese users in China and removing apps from its App Store that the Chinese government thinks are wrong.
The bond between Apple and China has been looked at closely in recent years. In May 2021, The New York Times said that Apple gave in to Beijing. In September 2023, Apple was facing new competition in China. The news that several government agencies had banned the use of Apple devices in government departments and state-owned businesses took almost $200 billion off its market value.
