China Orders Removal of WhatsApp and Threads from Apple's App Store, Escalating Technology War with the US

TikTok, the popular social media platform, has faced scrutiny and bans in various countries due to concerns over data privacy and national security. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban TikTok on national security grounds unless its owner, ByteDance, divests it within six months. However, TikTok is not the only social media platform facing scrutiny. Facebook, Twitter, and Meta are also under international censure. In Europe, TikTok has been fined $372 million by the EU for alleged failings to protect minors, and it could face a penalty of up to $800 million or 6% of its global turnover under the new Digital Services Act. The EU and the UK are implementing stronger regulatory frameworks to protect internet users, and tech companies are being held responsible for content moderation and data privacy. Major elections in Europe and the United States this year are expected to bring significant changes to online content. Regulators are increasing enforcement and imposing fines on Big Tech companies like Apple and Meta. Both regulators and Big Tech rely on each other, and the relationship between them is complex. As a result of these regulatory pressures, social media platforms may introduce restricted or modified features, and companies may transition to pay-to-play models to offset compliance costs. The goal is to achieve greater legislative clarity and a safer online experience for everyone [b67e015c].

Meanwhile, Nippon Steel, a Japanese steelmaker, has struggled with declining profits and market challenges. The company has faced difficulties due to factors such as global oversupply, rising raw material costs, and competition from Chinese steelmakers. Nippon Steel has been forced to cut jobs and reduce production capacity to mitigate losses. The steel industry as a whole has been grappling with issues such as excess capacity and trade disputes. Nippon Steel's challenges highlight the broader struggles faced by traditional industries in adapting to changing market dynamics and global competition. The company is exploring strategies to diversify its business and invest in new technologies to remain competitive in the long term [979a6572].

In other news, Apple has announced that it was ordered to remove WhatsApp and Threads from its China app store by the Cyberspace Administration of China. The Chinese government cited national security concerns as the reason for the removal. The government found inflammatory content about China's president, Xi Jinping, on WhatsApp and Threads. This move escalates the technology war between the US and China, as other messaging apps like Signal and Telegram were also removed from the app store. In the US, the House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a bill that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok or have it banned due to national security concerns. Chinese officials have condemned this push [106a093e] [a65df7f1] [8d3c92a0]. 

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