Government agencies in China have banned the use of Apple iPhones and other foreign technology devices by government officials. Those who work for the Beijing government will not be able to use these devices for work, nor bring them to government offices.
China bans government officials from using iPhones
The Wall Street Journal, which reported the news today, points out that this measure extends policies against technological dependence from outside Chinato counter cybersecurity threats.
The iPhone has a significant market share among high-end devices in China, partly due to rival Huawei’s difficulties developing competitive 5G phones following US sanctions. This ban on the use of Apple devices in government workplaces could have a negative impact on the company’s brand image in China and raise fears of espionage or interference. The news comes just before the iPhone 15 launches on September 12.
This also raises questions about consistency in China lots of privacy ads from Apple. Apple claims that it only holds the decryption keys for that information and maintains strict security standards, making the data inaccessible even by governments (including China’s).
The United States has imposed several sanctions on China, including export restrictions on advanced semiconductors in an effort to limit its military might. Meanwhile, China is trying to reduce its dependence on foreign technologyaiming to develop a fully independent national supply chain.
Technology is becoming increasingly central to geopolitics: after the Western bans on TikTok, the Chinese one arrives on the iPhone. It remains to be seen whether the situation will become even more acrimonious, leading to bans even for ordinary citizens.
Source
9to5macThe Wall Street Journal