China Shuts Down Apple's iBooks Store and iTunes Movies

China has shut down Apple's iBooks Store and iTunes Movies just six months after they were launched in the country, reports the New York Times.

Initially, Apple apparently had the government’s approval to introduce the services. But then a regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, asserted its authority and demanded the closings, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“We hope to make books and movies available again to our customers in China as soon as possible,” an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement.


The move by Chinese regulators is worrisome, as Apple is dependent on the country for much of its growth. Additionally, it could indicate a pushback against Apple's expansion into the country.

President Xi Jinping of China recently held a meeting in Beijing on China’s restrictive Internet policies. Top tech leaders, including Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba, and Ren Zhengfei, head of Huawei, were present. “China must improve management of cyberspace and work to ensure high-quality content with positive voices creating a healthy, positive culture that is a force for good,” the state-run news service Xinhua quoted Mr. Xi as saying.

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