For about a month, Skype, an
internet phone call and messaging service, has been unavailable on a number of
sites where apps are downloaded in China, including Apple’s App store. An Apple spokeswoman made a statement saying
that a number of voice over internet protocol apps do not comply with the local
law. The removal has led to many
complaints from Chinese users on internet message boards that were no longer able
to pay for Skype’s services through Apple.
In recent months, sensitive
political meetings and a new cybersecurity law has led to a sharp crackdown on
internet freedoms in China. Foreign TV
shows were taken down, companies restricted the same amount of time that
children could spend playing video games, and software that helps evade China’s
internet filters was targeted with heavy disruptions. A key Chinese Communist Party meeting had
already ended when Skype disappeared from the app stores—and indication that
the cybersecurity law was the reason, and the law, which began to take effect
in June, is likely to have a deep and long-lasting impact on how the internet
works in China.
Apple faced heavy criticism this
year after it said it had decided to take down software from its app store in
China that helps circumvent the government’s internet filters, called the Great
Firewall. I am interested to see if
Apple will lose some business in China and if that will be enough to impact the
company as a whole. In addition, I
wonder if China will begin to see a decrease in businesses emerging because of
the cybersecurity law and the internet protocol apps since many businesses use
Skype in order to communicate.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/business/skype-app-china.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FApple%20Inc.&action=click&contentCollection=business®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=collection
It makes sense for companies that will be impacted negatively by the new cybersecurity laws in China, like Apple, to lower the supply of products in China. The demand for apps, video games, and other technological software will go down in China, due to the new regulations. Therefore, tech companies should put their focus on targeting other countries to generate higher profits. I'm sure video game companies will follow Apple in starting to cut off supply, since children are restricted to a certain amount of playing time.
ReplyDeleteSkype was great when people purchased laptops before FaceTime was implemented on them. Now that there are different outlets for people to video chat with their peers, not to mention ones that are more compatible for whatever device they are using, it makes sense that Skype has declined, because the entry of substitutes has pushed them out of the equation.
ReplyDeleteChina is digging themselves into a hole by restricting their people's internet rights even more. The internet is one of the few places that not only allows people to be themselves, but also gives people access to information they otherwise wouldn't have, and be able to communicate with people in various parts of the world. China is continuously attempting to censor their people, which will probably backfire in the forms of strikes or protests or even riots if things escalate. China's tight grip on it's people will eventually be the reason why control will slip out of their hands.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Drew and Adam. Skype has basically fell out of the mind of consumers with FaceTime growing popularity. Interested to see how these new Cybersecurity laws affect other app builders and companies.
ReplyDeleteSkype lost popularity due to FaceTime and in gaming as well, mostly because of the emergence of Discord. Also losing so many of the users from China is a big damage. Not sure if this will affect Apple sales in China drastically, as the popularity of skype is lower and there are lots of alternatives that people can use.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything that has been said in the comments. Once FaceTime grew and became more popular, people stopped using Skype and eventually forgot about it. China also needs to let up a bit on their cybersecurity because as Duncan said, control will eventually slip out of their hands.
ReplyDelete