Apple Begins Applying Chinese Government License to New Apps in Its App Store

Apple began requiring new apps to show proof of Chinese government license (photo: twitter @appstore)

JAKARTA - Apple  has begun requiring new applications to show proof of a Chinese government license before being released on its Chinese App Store. This follows steps taken by local competitors years ago to comply with increasingly stringent state regulations.

Apple began on Friday Sept. 29 requiring app developers to apply for "internet content provider (ICP) registration" when they publish new apps on the App Store, it announced on its website for developers.

ICP registration is a long-term registration system required for websites to operate legally in China, and most local app stores, including those operated by Tencent and Huawei, have adopted it since at least 2017.

To obtain an ICP registration license, developers must have a company in China or work with a local publisher, which is an obstacle for a large number of foreign applications.

Apple's relaxed ICP policy allows the company to offer far more mobile apps than local app store rivals and has helped the US tech company increase its popularity in China, its third-largest market behind the United States and Europe.

Apple's decision comes after China tightened its oversight of mobile apps in August by releasing new regulations requiring all app stores and app developers to submit an "app registration" containing business details to regulators.

Some developers have taken to social media to voice their concerns about Apple's decision, fearing that the company will further tighten rules to fully comply with Chinese regulations.