Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from its app store in China, following an order from the country's internet watchdog citing "national security concerns."

According to Apple, the company is committed to following the laws in the countries in which it operates, even when they differ, and that the Chinese Cyberspace Administration ordered the removal of these applications from the App Store based on national security concerns.

A company spokesperson stated that these applications will remain available on all other stores in which they appear.

The two applications, owned by Meta, have already been banned in China and are not widely used, and can only be accessed in China using virtual private networks (VPNs) that can encrypt internet traffic and hide the user's identity online.
According to the Chinese company BDA China, the removal of the applications by Apple “adds more distance between the already separate technology worlds in the country and abroad.”

"This will cause inconvenience for consumers and businesses (in China) who communicate with family, friends or customers abroad, as even if they use VPNs to access existing applications, over time they will become outdated and require updating."