China’s ban on iPhone for government officials ‘hurts’ Apple

Amidst tensions between Beijing and Washington, China has decided to expand its ban on using iPhones in sensitive departments to government-backed agencies and state companies.

Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that several agencies have already instructed their staff not to bring iPhones to work, confirming an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal. The Chinese government plans to further extend this restriction to a number of state-owned enterprises and other government-controlled organisations, revealed the sources.

As of now, there is no formal or written injunction in place, so it is uncertain how many companies or agencies will eventually adopt restrictions. Some firms could choose to prohibit Apple devices in the workplace, while others may instruct their staff to avoid their use altogether.