Tumbleweeds are Watch Weekend Sexcapades (2014)a-blowin' through app stores in China, as unmonitored and foreign-run communication tools continue to vanish. The latest is Skype, which has been missing from Chinese app stores — including Apple's — for a month, according to the New York Times.
The Times' investigation says the move may indicate a crackdown by President Xi Jinping's administration on privacy, encrypted communication, and "internet freedoms." A new cybersecurity law the government instituted in June, which includes language that justifies widespread removal of non-compliant apps, may be politically motivated to cut off access once and for all to foreign news outlets and social networks.
SEE ALSO: Why Apple plays China’s censorship gameSkype, owned by Microsoft, is apparently still functioning in China. But the ability to download it has disappeared.
Previously, China has taken steps to remove apps that make it more difficult for the government to monitor its citizens' online communication. This often includes foreign-owned services like WhatsApp, which the government blocked in June, as well as VPN software, which the government removed from app stores in July.
The government's massive internet filter, which bars access to services like Gmail and Facebook, is colloquially referred to as "The Great Firewall."
Apple conceded in August that it's complying with Chinese censorship laws by removing VPN apps. CEO Tim Cook characterized the move as his company's policy to adhere to every country's laws in which they do business. But the lack of pushback may have something to do with the fact that Apple manufactures a huge amounts of its products in Chinese factories.
Mashable has reached out to Apple and Microsoft for comment, but neither responded at the time of this writing.
Topics Apple Cybersecurity Microsoft Privacy
Greystone Park Mental Hospital Faces DemolitionListen: Saul Bellow Reads from “Humboldt’s Gift,” 1988“Holiday in the Protectorate” and the Ethics of RoleToday in Found Poetry: Sally Quinn, UnderlinedIntroducing Our New Video Series, “My First Time”Remembering Playmobil’s Founder, Horst BrandstaetterSadie Stein’s Wine Cake RecipeRevisiting “Pickup on South Street”What We’re Loving: Tropical Paradise, Anxiety, Translation by The Paris ReviewThe Enduring Power of Frederic Leighton‘s “Flaming June”Inscrutable, But Beautiful—Walter Russell’s New Age DiagramsRichard McGuire on “Here,” His Groundbreaking Graphic NovelHow a Tube of Peppermint Foot Cream Made Me Time TravelRead Our Interviews with Elena Ferrante, Hilary Mantel, Lydia DavisWe Fear Clowns. But What Do Clowns Fear?“Holiday in the Protectorate” and the Ethics of RoleIt's Dante's Birthday, Maybe ...Suzanne Farrell Comes to the New York Public LibraryIt's Dante's Birthday, Maybe ...Notes on Becoming Dust Stability AI updated its free text Will the White House sinkhole get bigger? X's AI chatbot Grok made up a fake trending headline about Iran attacking Israel NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 5 X is giving 'complimentary' blue ticks to users who never asked for it Bilibili offers selective testing of AI Search Assistant to users · TechNode NetEase Youdao unveils voice tutoring large language model · TechNode NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 6 Disney+ password sharing is finished in June Wordle today: The answer and hints for April 6 China greenlights 88 domestic games in July · TechNode Top Alibaba exec Jiang Fan returns to key role three years after scandal · TechNode Nomadic Samburu people that once feared elephants now rescue them 'Immortal Life' fantasy farming sim adds trauma bonding to pastoral ideal, and I love it Elon Musk's old password reveals how much he really loves NASA OpenAI's Sora just dropped a trippy music video to fan the AI hype flames Amazon deals of the day: Dyson Ball Animal 3, Chefman air fryer oven, and more Apple’s new AI: 3 ways Siri could beat ChatGPT Shanghai saw 84% surge in cross Reports of unresponsive Samsung Galaxy phones pile up after big AI update
2.2313s , 10115.1171875 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Watch Weekend Sexcapades (2014)】,Inspiration Information Network