Apple confirmed on Friday that it had removed Meta Platforms’ apps WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China following an order from the country’s government.

Citing national security concerns, Beijing banned the two Meta apps along with encryption-focused messaging apps Telegram and Signal.

Other Meta apps including Facebook and Instagram remain available to download in China, while other mainstream Western social media platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter, are also available.

In a statement provided to Reuters, a spokesperson said: "The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns. We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree.”

While none of the apps have the same large user base as in Western markets and are eclipsed by Tencent’s WeChat, heavy online censorship in China by what is known as the ‘Great Firewall’ has historically meant that users have had to utilise virtual private networks or other tools to circumnavigate blocks.

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