We monitor 175 App Store storefronts to answer one question —
Is The Independent Daily Edition censored by Apple?
Apple offers The Independent Daily Edition in only 1 of the 175 App Stores it operates: Palau. 2.93B people cannot install it. It has been unavailable in mainland China since Sep 13, 2023.
507 tests on record·last checked 2 months ago
Why it is unavailable
Five things can put an app out of one App Store. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.
A government or a court demanded it
and Apple complied. Apple publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- News apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 3 other apps left mainland China the same day, Sep 13, 2023.
- Apple reports 1,213 government-ordered removals in Russia for 2025, naming none of them.
Apple applied a rule, unasked
either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Apple's own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Apple kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- News apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 3 other apps left mainland China the same day, Sep 13, 2023.
The developer withheld it
freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Apple's guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Apple's own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.
Something broke
a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.
- 3 other apps left mainland China the same day, Sep 13, 2023.
- Gone for 3 years.
A local rule about paying for it
gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Apple can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.
- It is free, so Apple sells nothing here.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you
Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Apple's removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.
None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Apple naming a Chinese agency tells you what Apple said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Apple's catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across the App Store. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Apple does not emit.
Apple publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which of its App Stores. For the removals it makes on a government's demand it publishes the agency and the law behind every one — 2,045 of the 166,899 apps it removed during 2025 — and never which app. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Apple's App Store Transparency Report
Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →
The Independent Daily Edition
Developer: Independent Digital News & Media Limited · Category: News · Released: Oct 31, 2011 · Rating: 1.2★
Other News apps missing from mainland China
Life of this app
- Oct 31, 2011Released on the App Store
- Oct 13, 2019First tested by AppleCensorship
- Sep 13, 2024Gone from 87 storefronts
- Jul 18, 2026Most recent test
Testing history
One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.
Found availableFound unavailable
Availability by storefront
Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.
| Test now | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfghanistanAF | Unavailable | Oct 19, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| AustraliaAU | Unavailable | Jun 22, 2025 | 15 months ago | ||
| AustriaAT | Unavailable | May 27, 2025 | 16 months ago | ||
| BahrainBH | Unavailable | Nov 15, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| BarbadosBB | Unavailable | Mar 24, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| BeninBJ | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 15 months ago | ||
| BermudaBM | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 16 months ago | ||
| BhutanBT | Unavailable | Sep 19, 2024 | 6 months ago | ||
| BoliviaBO | Unavailable | Jan 11, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA | Unavailable | Nov 26, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| BotswanaBW | Unavailable | Oct 5, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| British Virgin IslandsVG | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 14 months ago | ||
| BulgariaBG | Unavailable | Oct 24, 2023 | 7 months ago | ||
| Burkina FasoBF | Unavailable | Dec 23, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| CambodiaKH | Unavailable | Jan 20, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| Cayman IslandsKY | Unavailable | Jan 13, 2026 | 8 months ago | ||
| ChileCL | Unavailable | Nov 14, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| China (Mainland)CN | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 1 year ago | ||
| ColombiaCO | Unavailable | Jan 5, 2026 | 8 months ago | ||
| CyprusCY | Unavailable | Apr 8, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| DominicaDM | Unavailable | Apr 1, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| Dominican RepublicDO | Unavailable | Sep 23, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| DR CongoCD | Unavailable | Jul 2, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| EswatiniSZ | Unavailable | Nov 5, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| FinlandFI | Unavailable | Apr 23, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| GabonGA | Unavailable | Feb 21, 2026 | 7 months ago | ||
| GambiaGM | Unavailable | May 23, 2025 | 16 months ago | ||
| GeorgiaGE | Unavailable | Mar 23, 2026 | 6 months ago | ||
| GrenadaGD | Unavailable | Apr 5, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| GuatemalaGT | Unavailable | Nov 10, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Guinea-BissauGW | Unavailable | Jan 22, 2026 | 8 months ago | ||
| HondurasHN | Unavailable | Oct 19, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| Hong KongHK | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 6 months ago | ||
| ItalyIT | Unavailable | Sep 4, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| JamaicaJM | Unavailable | Dec 23, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| KenyaKE | Unavailable | Mar 17, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| LaosLA | Unavailable | Jan 25, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| LatviaLV | Unavailable | Apr 5, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| LebanonLB | Unavailable | Oct 19, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| LiberiaLR | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 8 months ago | ||
| MacaoMO | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 16 months ago | ||
| MadagascarMG | Unavailable | Dec 23, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| MalawiMW | Unavailable | Oct 22, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| MalaysiaMY | Unavailable | Jan 22, 2026 | 8 months ago | ||
| MaliML | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| MauritaniaMR | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 7 months ago | ||
| MicronesiaFM | Unavailable | Jun 15, 2025 | 15 months ago | ||
| MoldovaMD | Unavailable | Jul 18, 2026 | 2 months ago | ||
| MongoliaMN | Unavailable | Mar 17, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| MontenegroME | Unavailable | Jul 29, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MontserratMS | Unavailable | Dec 9, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MoroccoMA | Unavailable | Sep 14, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Myanmar (Burma)MM | Unavailable | Mar 9, 2026 | 6 months ago | ||
| NauruNR | Unavailable | Jul 1, 2024 | 2 months ago | ||
| NepalNP | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| New ZealandNZ | Unavailable | Jun 1, 2025 | 16 months ago | ||
| NicaraguaNI | Unavailable | Oct 15, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| North MacedoniaMK | Unavailable | Nov 5, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| OmanOM | Unavailable | Jul 23, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| Papua New GuineaPG | Unavailable | Nov 5, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| ParaguayPY | Unavailable | Nov 21, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| PortugalPT | Unavailable | Sep 9, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| QatarQA | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 9 months ago | ||
| RomaniaRO | Unavailable | Mar 29, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| RussiaRU | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| São Tomé & PríncipeST | Unavailable | Dec 14, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Saudi ArabiaSA | Unavailable | Aug 15, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| SeychellesSC | Unavailable | Aug 15, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Sierra LeoneSL | Unavailable | Jun 6, 2025 | 15 months ago | ||
| SingaporeSG | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 8 months ago | ||
| SlovakiaSK | Unavailable | Jul 12, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| SloveniaSI | Unavailable | Sep 8, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| South AfricaZA | Unavailable | Oct 23, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| South KoreaKR | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| St. Kitts & NevisKN | Unavailable | Oct 30, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| St. LuciaLC | Unavailable | Dec 9, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| SurinameSR | Unavailable | Jul 1, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| SwedenSE | Unavailable | May 16, 2025 | 16 months ago | ||
| TaiwanTW | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 15 months ago | ||
| TongaTO | Unavailable | Feb 21, 2026 | 7 months ago | ||
| Trinidad & TobagoTT | Unavailable | May 4, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| UkraineUA | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 9 months ago | ||
| United Arab EmiratesAE | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 2 months ago | ||
| United StatesUS | Unavailable | Sep 13, 2023 | 2 months ago | ||
| UruguayUY | Unavailable | Jul 23, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| VanuatuVU | Unavailable | Jun 22, 2025 | 15 months ago | ||
| ZimbabweZW | Unavailable | Dec 27, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| PalauPW | Available | — | 2 months ago | ||
| AlbaniaAL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AlgeriaDZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AngolaAO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AnguillaAI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Antigua & BarbudaAG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ArgentinaAR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ArmeniaAM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AzerbaijanAZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BahamasBS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BelarusBY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BelgiumBE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BelizeBZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BrazilBR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BruneiBN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CameroonCM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CanadaCA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Cape VerdeCV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ChadTD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Costa RicaCR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Côte d’IvoireCI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CroatiaHR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CzechiaCZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DenmarkDK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EcuadorEC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EgyptEG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| El SalvadorSV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EstoniaEE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FijiFJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FranceFR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GermanyDE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GhanaGH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GreeceGR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GuyanaGY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| HungaryHU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IcelandIS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IndiaIN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IndonesiaID | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IraqIQ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IrelandIE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IsraelIL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JapanJP | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JordanJO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KazakhstanKZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KosovoXK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KuwaitKW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KyrgyzstanKG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LibyaLY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LithuaniaLT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LuxembourgLU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MaldivesMV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MaltaMT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MauritiusMU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MexicoMX | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MozambiqueMZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NamibiaNA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NetherlandsNL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NigerNE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NigeriaNG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NorwayNO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PakistanPK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PanamaPA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PeruPE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PhilippinesPH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PolandPL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Republic of the CongoCG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| RwandaRW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SenegalSN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SerbiaRS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Solomon IslandsSB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SpainES | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Sri LankaLK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SwitzerlandCH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TajikistanTJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TanzaniaTZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ThailandTH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TunisiaTN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TürkiyeTR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TurkmenistanTM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Turks & Caicos IslandsTC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UgandaUG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| United KingdomGB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UzbekistanUZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VenezuelaVE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VietnamVN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| YemenYE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ZambiaZM | Not tested | — | — | 0 |
Testing asks Apple whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Apple directly, so the answer describes what Apple serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Apple at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Apple's own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.
How we test
Availability is checked against Apple's own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way the App Store app asks. "Unavailable" means Apple's servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.