Apple has started storing personal data of some users on servers in mainland China, marking the first time ever that the iPhone-maker has stored user data on Chinese soil.
The storage of user data in China represents a departure from the policies utilized by some of the biggest tech companies in the world, like Google, which has refused to build data centers in China for a number of reasons.
Google, for example, hasn't built data centers in China yet over censorship and privacy concerns, according to Reuters.
The move was made mainly to improve the speed and reliability of its iCloud service, which allows Apple users store email, pictures, and other data, according to Reuters. Putting data centers as close to customers as possible means users can receive faster service.
The data will be kept on servers provided by China Telecorp, the third-largest wireless carrier in the country, Apple said in a statement this week.
"Apple takes user security and privacy very seriously," the company said in a statement this week. "We have added China Telecom to our list of data center providers to increase bandwidth and improve performance for our customers in mainland china. All data stored with our providers is encrypted. China Telecom does not have access to the content."
China Telcom has not commented on the news yet.
Encryption keys for Apple's data on China Telecom servers would be stored offshore and not made available to China Telecom, a "source with knowledge of the situation," said to Reuters.
Apple has created encryption systems for services like iMessager that not even Apple can unlock. Some analysts don't believe that Apple would be able to withhold user data in the event of a government request however.
"If they're making out that the data is protected and secure that's a little disingenuous because if they want to operate a business here, that'd have to comply with demands from the authorities," said Jeremy Goldkorn, director of Danwei.com, a research firm focused on Chinese media, internet and consumers, according to Reuters.
"On the other hand if they don't store Chinese user data on a Chinese server they're basically risking a crackdown from the authorities," he added, saying that data stored in the U.S. is subject to similar U.S. regulations where the government can use court orders to demand data.
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