Coverage dated April 18, 2024

Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads and Signal from app store in China

Headline from Anchorage Daily News

Apple has removed several widely used communications platforms from its app store in China at the request of the Chinese government.

Anchorage Daily News's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

25 articles, oldest first.

New York Post
Apple removes WhatsApp, Threads from App Store in China after demand by Beijing over security concerns (opens New York Post)
Published Apr 18, 2024
New York Post's feed description
The Chinese government ordered Apple to remove WhatsApp, Signal, Threads and Telegram from its App Store, according to a report.
France 24
Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China App Store on govt order: reports (opens France 24)
Published Apr 18, 2024
France 24's feed description
Apple has removed Meta's WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China on orders from the country's internet regulator, US media reported Friday.
Time
Apple Pulls WhatsApp, Threads From China App Store (opens Time)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Time's feed description
The removal of these foreign platforms—which were already largely inaccessible in China—will make it more difficult for users to circumvent existing restrictions, such as by using VPNs.
The Guardian
Apple removes WhatsApp and Threads from Chinese App Store (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 18, 2024
The Guardian's feed description
Apple says Chinese government ordered it to remove two Meta-owned apps for ‘national security’ reasons
NBC News
Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads from China app store after Beijing order (opens NBC News)
Published Apr 18, 2024
NBC News's feed description
Apple said on Friday it had removed Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China after being ordered to do so by the Chinese government, which cited national security concerns.
Anchorage Daily News
Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads and Signal from app store in China (opens Anchorage Daily News)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Anchorage Daily News's feed description
Apple has removed several widely used communications platforms from its app store in China at the request of the Chinese government.
Gizmodo
Apple Blocks WhatsApp, Signal, and Threads in China (opens Gizmodo)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Gizmodo's feed description
The U.S.-based messaging apps used to be available in China via VPN.
Fortune
Apple removes Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from its China app store after Beijing deemed them national security risks (opens Fortune)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Fortune's feed description
Apple said it was obliged to remove the apps after an order from China's internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China.
NBC10 Philadelphia
Apple pulls Meta's WhatsApp, Threads from China App Store (opens NBC10 Philadelphia)
Published Apr 18, 2024
NBC10 Philadelphia's feed description
Apple on Friday said it has pulled WhatsApp, Threads, Signal and Telegram from the App Store in China.
Engadget
Apple says it was ordered to remove WhatsApp and Threads from China App Store (opens Engadget)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Engadget's feed description
China's Cyberspace Administration ordered Apple to pull Threads and WhatsApp from its App Store in the country, the company said.
BGR
WhatsApp and Telegram were just banned from Apple’s App Store in China (opens BGR)
Published Apr 18, 2024
BGR's feed description
China bans WhatsApp, Signal, Threads, and Telegram from the iPhone's App Store. Here's everything you need to know about it.
Forbes
Apple Takes Down WhatsApp And Other Popular Messaging Apps From Chinese App Store (opens Forbes)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Forbes's feed description
Apple said China’s Cyberspace Administration ordered the removal of the apps on national security grounds.
Digital Journal
Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China app store on official order: report (opens Digital Journal)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Digital Journal's feed description
Apple has removed the Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China following an order from the country's top internet regulator.
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Apple pulls WhatsApp and Threads from App Store on Beijing's orders (opens Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Minneapolis Star Tribune's feed description
Apple said it had removed Meta's WhatsApp messaging app and its Threads social media app from the App Store in China to comply with orders from Chinese authorities.
New York Times
Apple Says It Was Ordered to Pull WhatsApp From China App Store (opens New York Times)
Published Apr 18, 2024
New York Times's feed description
Apple said it removed WhatsApp and Threads from its China app offerings Friday on Beijing’s orders, amid technological tensions between the U.S. and China.
FOX Business
China orders Apple to remove WhatsApp, Threads, other apps in censorship move: report (opens FOX Business)
Published Apr 18, 2024
FOX Business's feed description
Apple has reportedly removed messaging apps including WhatsApp and Telgram from its iPhone app store for users in China, following orders from the Chinese government.
The Daily Caller
Apple Cooperates With Chinese Censorship Demands, Removes Popular Messaging Apps From Store (opens The Daily Caller)
Published Apr 18, 2024
The Daily Caller's feed description
Tech behemoth Apple complied with an order from the Chinese government to remove popular messaging apps from the company’s app store in the country.
Courthouse News Service
Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China App Store on government order: Reports (opens Courthouse News Service)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Courthouse News Service's feed description
Many platforms that are popular in much of the world — including Google, Facebook, X, WhatsApp and TikTok — are blocked in mainland China.
Insider
China just made it even harder for people in the country to access WhatsApp and Threads (opens Insider)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Insider's feed description
The Chinese government made Apple remove two apps – just as US considers the same thing for TikTok.
Quartz
China ordered Apple to take WhatsApp, Telegram, and other messaging apps off the iPhone (opens Quartz)
Published Apr 18, 2024
Quartz's feed description
WhatsApp, Threads, Signal, and Telegram were taken off the Apple App Store in China
KTVZ Bend
Apple deletes WhatsApp, Threads from China app store on orders from Beijing (opens KTVZ Bend)
Published Apr 18, 2024
KTVZ Bend's feed description
By Juliana Liu, CNN Hong Kong (CNN) — Apple has removed WhatAapp and Threads from its app store in China, following an order from the country’s internet watchdog which cited national security concerns. “We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree,” an…

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.