Beijing : China has issued an order to government officials and employees, prohibiting them from using iPhones and other foreign brand mobile phones in government agencies.
This ban also extends to government employees bringing such phones to the office. In recent weeks, senior officials from various government agencies have been informing their junior employees about this government order in chat groups and meetings.
According to reports in The Wall Street Journal, China is taking this step to reduce dependency on foreign technology and enhance cybersecurity. China aims to restrict the transfer of sensitive information out of the country through foreign-brand devices. China is determined to prevent espionage through foreign brand phones.
The Chinese government’s move could pose a significant loss to foreign brands like Apple since Apple is the most popular mobile phone brand in China. Apple also has one of the largest markets in China, with 19% of the company’s profits coming from China alone. It’s not clear how strictly the Chinese government’s order is being enforced, and Apple has not yet issued any official response.
China’s new directive is seen as a response to escalating tensions between the United States and China in the realm of technological production. Both countries have imposed ongoing bans on various technical products. In fact, the United States recently imposed a ban on TikTok. American officials have also been prohibited from using the Chinese social media platform TikTok.
In response to the American ban, China has issued this new order, further exacerbating the tension between the two nations. Mutual allegations of data espionage have plagued the relationship for a long time, with the United States accusing China of spying for an extended period. However, China denies these allegations.