Apple’s iPhone App Store in China is becoming increasingly closed. China recently updated its existing internet software regulation to set strict criteria for app stores and apps in the country, and after looking for a way around it, Apple began to comply. It will soon become more difficult for users in China to watch YouTube on iPhone devices.
Apple, as of Friday last week, requires app developers hoping to publish apps on its App Store in China to submit their Internet Content Provider (ICP) registration number from the Chinese government. Last month, China announced that it would require an ICP license for apps to be listed on all mobile app stores. Now, while Apple is complying with the regulation, it is closing a loophole that allowed iPhone users in China to download and, with a VPN, use apps that the Chinese government has blocked for most or all of the country, such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube.
Reuters it says that in order for an app to qualify for an ICP license, they are “effectively” required to host their back end in China. This means that foreign apps must have a local component to be available for download in China. Apple has denied the request, but app stores Tencent, Huawei and others have apparently already complied. We asked Apple for comment and whether the rule still affected any apps, but did not hear back by press time.