The latest move by purveyors of the Great Firewall of China? Popular messaging and video calling app Skype, from Microsoft, has been removed from app stores in China for both Android and iOS devices.
Apple responded saying that: “We have been notified by the Ministry of Public Security that a number of voice over internet protocol apps do not comply with local law, therefore these apps have been removed from the App Store in China.”
No statements were issued by either Microsoft, which owns the Skype platform, or Tencent Holdings and Qihoo 360, which oversee Android app stores.
China’s cybersecurity paranoia is nothing new. Most outside applications have been banned for sometime, including social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Google Play Store is still unavailable in China and, recently, several VPN services were kicked out.
While tech companies struggle to do business with the country that holds the world’s largest population, other industries like consumer retail and automobiles are thriving – or at least being allowed to survive on the sidelines as Chinese companies take pole positions on practically everything.
But for technology companies, the only thing China seems to be open to is shutting doors in their faces.
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