Apple Persuades Chinese Officials to Discuss New Rules Restricting Foreign Apps

Apple lobbies the Chinese government. (photo; twitter apple)

JAKARTA -- Apple representatives have held meetings with Chinese government officials in recent months to discuss concerns regarding new rules that would restrict the American technology company from offering many of the foreign applications currently available in its app store in that country. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal on Friday, September 29.

Previously, Chinese government officials told Apple that it must strictly enforce rules banning unregistered foreign apps, the report said, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The new rules are part of China's efforts to increase oversight of smartphone and mobile app usage in recent years, and now require mobile app stores and mobile apps to file details of their businesses with the government.

On Wednesday, September 27, China's cyber regulator released the names of the first mobile app stores that have completed filing their business details, signaling the start of implementation of the new rules. However, Apple's app store does not appear in the list.

Apple has not revealed how its app store in China will comply with Beijing's new rules. Experts say Apple's compliance could result in tens of thousands of apps being removed from its app store in China.

Apple employees expressed concerns about how these rules will be implemented and their impact on users, the Wall Street Journal reported.