Facebook bans Huawei from pre-installing its apps on smartphones

Facebook no longer allows Huawei to pre-install the company’s apps on its smartphones. From now on, users will have to install applications such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook themselves.

For Huawei, Facebook’s decision is yet another blow in a row since the United States said it imposed strict trade restrictions against the Chinese tech group for security reasons. The installation ban is limited to devices that have not yet left the factory. Owners of a Huawei smartphone can still download and update the Facebook apps themselves, a Facebook spokesperson told Reuters.

Like many other smartphone manufacturers, Huawei equips its devices with a number of popular apps from the factory. In addition to Facebook, these include Twitter and Booking.com. Reuters asked both companies if they are considering similar steps as Facebook. Twitter declined to comment and Booking Holdings has so far not responded. Huawei itself could not be reached for comment, according to Reuters.