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Apple blocks U.S. users from downloading ByteDance’s Chinese apps

MacDailyNews

Mar 6

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While TikTok now operates in the United States under new (non-Chinese majority) ownership following its recent divestiture, Apple has implemented technical restrictions that prevent iOS users in the U.S. from downloading or updating other apps developed by ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company.

Zeyi Yang for Wired:
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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.
The timing and technical specifics suggest the restriction is related to the deal TikTok agreed to in January to divest Chinese ownership of its US operations. The agreement was the result of the so-called TikTok ban law passed by Congress in 2024, which also barred companies like Apple and Google from distributing other apps majority-owned by ByteDance.

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MacDailyNews Note: H.R.7521 – Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act “prohibits distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for a foreign adversary controlled application.” Under the act, “a foreign adversary controlled application is directly or indirectly operated by (1) ByteDance, Ltd. or TikTok (including subsidiaries or successors that are controlled by a foreign adversary); or (2) a social media company that is controlled by a foreign adversary and has been determined by the President to present a significant threat to national security.” More info via Congress.gov here.

An archived version of an Apple Support document (no longer available on Apple’s Support site) states, in part:

Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates. Pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries — including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others — will no longer be available for download or updates on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025.

The following are some of the apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries that are affected:
• TikTok
• TikTok Studio
• TikTok Shop Seller Center
• CapCut
• Lemon8
• Hypic
• Lark – Team Collaboration
• Lark – Rooms Display
• Lark Rooms Controller
• Gauth: AI Study Companion
• MARVEL SNAP

If you live in the United States

If you already have these apps installed on your device, they will remain on your device. But they can’t be redownloaded if deleted or restored if you move to a new device. In-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer possible.

Users in the United States won’t receive updates for these apps, which could potentially impact performance, security, and compatibility with future versions of iOS and iPadOS, and some app functions might become limited or stop working since the app can’t receive updates.

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