Dubai: In a recent move by Apple to remove several apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Threads, from the App Store in China, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov suggests that the primary target of China’s crackdown is not these apps but rather Apple itself.
Apple clarified that while it may not align with the decision, it is obliged to comply with local laws. “The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns,” Apple stated, explaining the removal.
Durov contends that China’s aim is to steer users away from iPhones and towards Android smartphones manufactured by Chinese companies like Xiaomi. “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,” Durov conveyed on his Telegram channel.
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Despite the challenges, Telegram remains the most downloaded mobile app in China on Android, according to Google Play. Durov highlighted that accessing Telegram requires a VPN in China but noted that Chinese users are resourceful in finding ways to use the app.
In contrast to Android, Apple does not permit sideloading of apps, a policy Durov criticized as prioritizing profits over user interests due to its centralized “walled garden” approach. “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 remarked.
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Durov’s criticism of Apple isn’t new. In 2021, he expressed dissatisfaction with the iPhone, likening its use to a journey back to the Middle Ages due to its inferior display technology compared to modern Android phones.
Despite China’s actions forcing Apple to remove apps like Telegram from its Chinese App Store, Durov believes that Telegram wasn’t the primary target of the change, as there hasn’t been a noticeable decrease in downloads from China.
