China Announces App Stores That Comply With New Rules, Apple Hasn't Been Registered

JAKARTA - China's cyber regulatory agency released the names of the first mobile app stores to complete registration of business details to regulators. This shows that they have started implementing new rules that expand their oversight of mobile apps.

A total of 26 app stores operated by companies such as Tencent, Huawei, Ant Group, Baidu, Xiaomi, and Samsung have submitted registrations to authorities, according to China's Cyber Cakrawala Administration (CAC).

Apple's App Store isn't one of the app stores on the list. Apple hasn't responded why they don't want to register yet.

Beijing has expanded surveillance of smartphone use and mobile apps in recent years. China now requires mobile app stores and mobile apps to send their business details to the government.

This rule has raised concerns in the industry that the issuance of applications in the world's second-largest economy will be very difficult and many applications may need to be removed.

Beijing's push to tighten surveillance of apps was in the spotlight when in June last year CAC issued a new rule requiring app stores to deliver business details and said they would ask app stores to take responsibility if apps contain illegal content.

In August this year, the Ministry of Industry and Informatics published another notice requiring mobile apps to complete registration by the end of March.

Earlier this month, app stores operated by companies such as Tencent and Huawei had begun demanding that apps in their app stores comply with new rules.

Apple has not disclosed how its app stores in China will comply with Beijing's new rules. Experts say that Apple's compliance could result in tens of thousands of apps removed from Apple's App Store in China.