Apple Caves in to China's Web Censorship by Blocking News App
Apple has caved in to China's web censorship and voluntarily blocked its News App in the Asian country.
The Cupertino, U.S.-based tech giant appears to have automatically deactivated its News App in China, in accordance with the policy of the PRC government. Because of this move, iPhone owners who travel to China cannot access content from the newly released news reading app even if their smartphone is registered in the U.S., according to Quartz.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not China's Great Firewall that is censoring the Apple News App, but it is Apple itself that has blocked the app. iPhone users in China who try to open the app are met with the message "Can't refresh right now. News isn't supported in your current region," The Market Business reports.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Apple reportedly monitors users trying to access content on Apple News and determines their mobile network connection. Those who connect to mobile networks in mainland China are blocked from reading news content, but those connected to mobile networks in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and anywhere else have no problem doing so.
Some users have expressed their alarm at Apple's latest move, especially since it is still enforced even if the location service is turned off. This leaves iPhone users no choice but to abide with China's rules, the report details.
However, Apple has not yet released any comment on the Apple News censoring. As of now, the app is available in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, but users from other countries who download the app from app stores in the three countries can also access it.
China is responsible for half of Apple's revenue growth. Blocking the news app in the country may be Apple's way of appeasing the Chinese government to ensure continued access to this giant Asian market. This suggests that the tech giant is willing to do anything to maintain its presence in China even at the inconvenience of its paying users.
