Popular iPhone messaging app WhatsApp newly crippled by China's 'Great Firewall'
Facebook's last remaining tentpole product in China -- WhatsApp -- has reportedly been severely crippled by changes to China's internet filters, often known as the "Great Firewall."

New filters are specifically targeting WhatsApp functions, a source and several security experts told the New York Times. Many people are unable to send photos or videos, and some may not even able to send text, the app's main purpose.
The Times noted that based on the Chinese government's track record, a partial block could be the precursor to a full ban, though sometimes such disruptions are just temporary.
The government has tightened its grip on the internet in the past few weeks, most notably bringing new cybersecurity laws into effect. These in fact forced Apple to launch its first Chinese data center, since sensitive personal data must now be stored on local servers, and businesses must pass security reviews before they can transmit it elsewhere.
It's even expected that virtual private networks will be completely blocked in China by Feb. 2018, disrupting the one avenue Chinese residents had for circumventing the Great Firewall.
WhatsApp was already far less popular in China than a local messaging app, WeChat, but Facebook now has the barest of toeholds in the country, since both its namesake service and Instagram are banned.

New filters are specifically targeting WhatsApp functions, a source and several security experts told the New York Times. Many people are unable to send photos or videos, and some may not even able to send text, the app's main purpose.
The Times noted that based on the Chinese government's track record, a partial block could be the precursor to a full ban, though sometimes such disruptions are just temporary.
The government has tightened its grip on the internet in the past few weeks, most notably bringing new cybersecurity laws into effect. These in fact forced Apple to launch its first Chinese data center, since sensitive personal data must now be stored on local servers, and businesses must pass security reviews before they can transmit it elsewhere.
It's even expected that virtual private networks will be completely blocked in China by Feb. 2018, disrupting the one avenue Chinese residents had for circumventing the Great Firewall.
WhatsApp was already far less popular in China than a local messaging app, WeChat, but Facebook now has the barest of toeholds in the country, since both its namesake service and Instagram are banned.
Comments
Meantime, Washington DC is focused on coal, chicken, beef, corn, and cigarettes. We are such a pathetic, whimpering, toothless, paper tiger. All hat and no cattle.
China blatantly violates everything that the WTO stands for, prevents foreign competition, and literally steals everyone's IP. Hurt this country where it hurts the most. Its economy. If it wants access to other countries, it must first allow that same access within its own borders, unfettered by China's ridiculous government bureaucracy.
We must be vigilant and vocal.
If the world has to accept more expensive products because China is out of the WTO, so be it. I'll be the first to vote for that.
The best way US firms can react to any supposed Chinese throttling of business is to stop making products there.
Plenty of of Chinese companies do plenty of business here, they buy companies here, and they raise capital. US companies don't regularly steal Chinese IP. There is simply no comparison between the US and China when it comes to economic openness or playing by the rules. None whatsoever.
The reasons these things happen are debatable.
Should the US have stopped Intel selling Xeons to the Chinese government for national security reasons? Was that really a wise move or an example of the US shooting itself in the foot?
The Huawei investigation is getting long in the tooth now. If it proposed a deal with US ISPs today, do you think the deal would be scuppered by government anyway? Do you think that groups would lobby against any such deal? Remember that Huawei's business model would represent a huge and direct threat to Apple in the US.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with much of your second post.