China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has announced that all mobile app providers within the country must submit comprehensive business information to the government. This step, revealed late on Tuesday, marks the latest move by Beijing to exert stricter control over the industry.
MIIT's directive stipulates that apps failing to complete proper filings will face penalties following a grace period extending until March of the following year. Experts have expressed concerns that this measure could potentially limit the number of apps available and disproportionately affect smaller developers. You Yunting, a legal expert from DeBund Law Offices in Shanghai, noted that the order essentially mandates approvals from the ministry. Although primarily aimed at combating online fraud, the new rule will have repercussions for all apps operating in China.
Rich Bishop, co-founder of AppInChina, a company specializing in app publishing, pointed out that this rule will likely impact foreign developers as well. Previously, foreign-based developers could easily publish their apps via Apple's App Store in China without presenting documentation to the Chinese government.
Bishop highlighted that in order to adhere to the fresh regulations, app developers now need to either establish a Chinese-based company or collaborate with a local publisher.
Following a comment inquiry, Apple did not provide an immediate response.
In response to new regulations introduced by China, the tech giant removed more than a hundred artificial intelligence (AI) apps from its App Store last week, aligning with the country's newly established licensing framework for generative AI apps.
The ministry's communication further indicated that entities involved in internet information services via apps in sectors like news, publishing, education, film and television, as well as religion, should likewise furnish pertinent documentation.
This requirement might potentially impact the availability of well-liked social media applications such as X, Facebook, and Instagram. While these apps are not permitted for use within China, they can still be acquired from app stores, enabling Chinese users to access them while traveling abroad.
China's Existing Regulations Mandate Licenses for Mobile Games Prior to Launch, Resulting in the Removal of Numerous Unauthorized Games from Various App Stores in 2020.
Tencent's WeChat, the nation's predominant online social platform, announced on Wednesday that it is extending the new regulations to encompass mini apps—applications that can be accessed within the WeChat platform.
According to the company, upcoming apps must fulfill the filing requirements prior to their launch, effective from September. On the other hand, existing mini apps are granted an extension until the conclusion of March to comply with these guidelines.