China bans government officials from using iPhones at work

China has banned government officials from using iPhones and other foreign-branded devices at work, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the Wall Street Journal, this ban was only introduced in recent weeks, and is the latest step in Beijing's campaign to reduce dependence on foreign technology and strengthen cybersecurity.

China has restricted government officials at some agencies from using iPhones for work in recent years, so the latest ban is an extension of that requirement. It’s unclear how far the ban will go, but similar messages have been sent to employees at some central government agencies, the Wall Street Journal reported.

China's State Council Information Office and Apple have yet to comment on the matter.

Beijing’s move could have a major impact on foreign brands in China, including Apple. Apple has dominated the $600-plus smartphone market in China in recent years, after U.S. sanctions hit Huawei’s ability to make 5G phones. China is the company’s second-largest market after the U.S., accounting for about 19% of its total revenue.

The company is expected to launch the iPhone 15 on September 12. Any move that hurts iPhone sales in China could hurt Apple's overall goals.

World - China bans government officials from using iPhones at work — China is Apple's second-largest market, after the US, accounting for about 19% of the company's total revenue. Photo: NY Times

This is not the first time China has imposed restrictions on foreign technology. Two years ago, the country banned US electric carmaker Tesla from government and military facilities, citing espionage concerns.

Beijing has also tightened legal frameworks to boost national security, including introducing laws to ensure data collected in China stays within its territory.

Similar bans have been imposed by Washington and its allies on Chinese telecommunications equipment.

The Biden administration has banned electronic equipment from Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE since November 2021 with the aim of "protecting the American people from national security threats related to telecommunications".

In October 2022, the US imposed new export restrictions on advanced chip and semiconductor manufacturing equipment to prevent US technology from boosting China's military power.

Several US states have banned employees from using TikTok on work devices like phones and laptops, and even banned their Wi-Fi networks from accessing the app. Members of Congress have also introduced bills to ban TikTok nationwide .

Nguyen Tuyet (According to WSJ, SCMP)

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