Apple enforces new check on apps in China as Beijing tightens oversight
Apple enforces new check on apps in China as Beijing tightens oversight
With the move, Apple joins local rivals that adopted the policy years earlier to meet tightening state regulations in China
- Apple has implemented a new policy in China, requiring app developers to provide proof of a Chinese government license, known as the "internet content provider (ICP) filing," before releasing new apps on the China App Store.
- The ICP filing is a registration system necessary for websites to operate legally in China and has been adopted by most local app stores since at least 2017.
- Obtaining an ICP filing license typically requires having a company in China or collaborating with a local publisher, which has been a challenge for many foreign app developers.
- This move aligns Apple with local rivals and comes as China tightens regulations on mobile apps, including the requirement for "app filing" containing business details.
- Apple's compliance status could impact the availability of numerous apps on its China App Store, including popular foreign apps like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram, and it may face further challenges in China's evolving regulatory landscape.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Apple AAPL-Q has started requiring new apps to show proof of a Chinese government licence before their release on its China App Store, joining local rivals that had adopted the policy years earlier to meet tightening state regulations.
To get an ICP filing licence, developers need to have a company in China or work with a local publisher, which has been an obstacle for a large number of foreign apps.
Apple is also facing other troubles in China as Beijing focuses more on security, such as some government agencies banning employees from using iPhones, as Reuters reported last month.
Rich Bishop, CEO of app publishing firm AppInChina, said demanding ICP filings from developers brings Apple one step closer to being fully compliant in China.
Many developers have taken to social media to voice concerns over Apple’s decision, fearing it may further tighten rules to fully comply with China’s regulations.
Some iPhone users in China posted on X saying that they may need to start using Apple accounts from other countries to access their favourite apps.
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