Irregular collection of personal information: China removes 90 apps
Beijing: China has directed domestic app stores to remove 90 apps last week over alleged “irregular collection of personal information” in a show of strength from regulators that have been increasingly cracking down on how tech companies manage data, media reports said.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that the apps were being taken “offline” for an indefinite period, reports South China Morning Post.
The affected apps include online ticket booking platform Damai, online travel booking app Tuniu, China’s biggest LinkedIn rival Maimai, and Tianya, an online community for people to share views and ideas. Users who already have the apps installed can continue to use them, reports the newspaper.
The punishment comes two weeks after the implementation of a new regulation that defines what types of user data apps can collect and what is off limits, the newspaper reported.
Interesting, India, the nation with which China was engaged in a border dispute last year, had banned 118 Chinese apps.
The Indian government made the decision amid standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
As per Indian government, these apps were prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, Defence of India, Security of State and Public Order.
The Indian government had taken the step in September.
Before that, the Centre in June banned 59 apps with Chinese links including the very popular TikTok and UC Browser in the wake of the deadly faceoff with China in Ladakh on June 15 which left 20 Indian soldiers martyred.
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