China’s crackdown targets Apple, not WhatsApp, Telegram CEO

Last week, Apple removed a host of apps — including WhatsApp, Telegram, Threads — from the App Store in China. Apple said that while it may not agree with the decision it was obligated to follow the laws in the countries where it operates. “The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns,” Apple explained why the apps were removed.

Now, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has said that the real target of China’s crackdown is actually Apple and not other apps. His argument is that China wants people to switch to Android and use smartphones made by Chinese companies. “It was a move against Apple itself: the Chinese authorities are forcing more of their citizens to switch from iPhones to Android smartphones produced by Chinese companies such as Xiaomi,” said Durov on his Telegram channel.

Durov said that Telegram is the most downloaded mobile app in China on Android, according to Google Play. “Access to Telegram requires a VPN in China, but Chinese people are smart – they like Telegram and find a way to use it,” he said.

Unlike Android, Apple doesn’t allow sideloading of apps. He accused Apple of prioritising profits rather than user interests because of its walled garden. “Once again, Apple shot itself in the foot with its centralised “walled garden” app policies. As a result of this change, the iPhone market share in China will keep shrinking. Prioritizing profits over freedom for users is not a good long-term strategy,” Durov said.

The Telegram CEO has a history of being critical of Apple. He once said that using an iPhone makes him feel like he has gone to the Middle Ages. “Every time I have to use an iPhone to test our iOS app I feel like I’m thrown back into the Middle Ages. The iPhone’s 60Hz displays can’t compete with the 120Hz displays of modern Android phones that support much smoother animations,” he said in 2021.

Last week, China forced Apple to remove apps such as Telegram from its Chinese App Store. We haven’t seen any decrease in downloads coming from China – and I don’t think Telegram was the main target of this change. Moneycontrol