Apple Blocks US Users From Downloading Chinese ByteDance Apps

Apple has deployed technical restrictions to block iOS users in the United States from downloading other apps made by the video platform's Chinese parent organization ByteDance. This move comes as TikTok, ByteDance's hugely popular video-sharing app, faces increased scrutiny in the US over national security concerns.

ByteDance owns a vast array of different apps spanning social media, entertainment, artificial intelligence, and other sectors. The leading one is Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, which has over 1 billion monthly active users. While most of those users reside in China, iPhone owners around the world have traditionally been able to download these apps from anywhere without using a VPN, as long as they have a valid App Store account registered in China.

That's not true anymore. Starting in late January, iPhone users in the US with Chinese App Store accounts began reporting that they were encountering new obstacles when they tried to download apps developed by ByteDance. WIRED has confirmed that even with a valid Chinese App Store account, downloading or updating a ByteDance-owned Chinese app is blocked on Apple devices located in the United States.

This move by Apple is likely a response to the increased scrutiny and potential bans on TikTok in the US. The Biden administration has threatened to ban TikTok unless its Chinese owners sell their stakes, citing national security concerns. Several US states have also banned the use of TikTok on government devices. By restricting access to ByteDance's other Chinese apps, Apple is positioning itself to comply with potential future restrictions on the company's technologies.

The inability to download ByteDance's Chinese apps is a significant inconvenience for US-based users who have grown accustomed to accessing a wide range of social media, entertainment, and AI-powered tools from the company. It remains to be seen how ByteDance will respond to this new limitation imposed by Apple, and whether the company will find ways to circumvent the restrictions or explore alternative distribution channels for its products in the US market.

Overall, this move by Apple underscores the escalating tensions between the US and China in the technology sector, as the two superpowers continue to vie for dominance in the digital landscape. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, tech companies like Apple and ByteDance will likely be forced to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain regulatory environment.