These days, the use of social media apps has become incredibly popular with Australian users—and for good reason! They allow us to connect with our friends and family no matter where they are and share stories, photos and videos.

However, with the rise of the digital era, there are new perils that emerge. One of them being potential threats to your privacy.

As you’ve been opening up apps and scrolling through thousands of messages daily, we may not realise that these handy little tools could be cracking open a window to our personal lives for prying eyes.

MPs have raised serious concerns over the use of some popular phone apps. Credit: Brian Ramirez/Pexels

Speaking of which, you've heard of the big names like Facebook, WhatsApp, and possibly even TikTok, but have you heard of WeChat?

Primarily popular in China but also used by a significant number of people in Australia, WeChat is a unique platform that combines features commonplace to WhatsApp and Facebook, but it also lets users do a lot more, right from simple text-based conversations to shopping, gaming, and even booking doctor appointments.

However, it sounds like this all-in-one communication and mobile commerce solution is currently facing unwelcome scrutiny on Australian shores.

Federal MPs are reportedly encouraging tougher restrictions on social media platforms, WeChat included, because of concerns about foreign interference and alleged spying activities.

Federal MPs have called for tougher restrictions on social media platforms, including a potential ban on the Chinese messaging service WeChat. Credit: Shutterstock

The call for restrictions is rooted in fears about China's governmental involvement with companies such as WeChat's parent company, Tencent, and the social video app TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.

A recent report from a group of senators studying how foreign countries use social media to potentially influence Australian affairs has made several suggestions, one of them being enforcing regulations on transparency.

An alarming issue raised in the report hints at how China's intelligence services oblige companies like TikTok and WeChat to cooperate with them secretly.

The MPs are suggesting that the federal government seriously consider banning the use of WeChat on government devices and even discuss the possibility of extending the existing TikTok ban to devices used by contractors.

As per the committee chair Coalition Senator Paterson, companies like WeChat and TikTok pose 'unique national security risks'. This is presumably due to their parent companies being based in China and, therefore, subject to its national security laws.

‘Platforms like TikTok and WeChat that are subject to the control of authoritarian regimes illustrate the broader cyber security risk to sensitive government information,’ Senator Paterson said.

The report posits that foreign interference and espionage are the largest security issues Australia is currently facing. They have the potential to compromise the country's government, academic sector, industry, media, and local communities.

Back in April, the federal government had already banned the use of TikTok on politicians' and public servants' work devices due to privacy and security risks.

This action followed similar restrictions implemented by countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, and New Zealand, which also prohibited the use of the app on government devices.

Key Takeaways

• Federal MPs have called for tougher restrictions on social media platforms, including a potential ban on WeChat, due to foreign interference concerns.
• A report by senators highlights the need for transparency regulations and how the parent companies of TikTok and WeChat, which are based in China, are required to cooperate with local intelligence agencies.
• The report states foreign interference and espionage represent the largest security threat to Australia’s government, academic sector, industry, media, and local communities.
• The federal government had previously banned TikTok on the work phones of public servants and politicians due to major security and privacy risks, a move that was also taken by nations like the US, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand.

While WeChat may not be a platform we talk about often in the SDC, it’s worth keeping an eye on the story for its potential ripple effects–not just on global politics but on how we communicate in the digital age.

What are your thoughts on this, members? Do you use WeChat, and will you support a ban as proposed by our these officials? Tell us below!

 

[Ronloby]

Don't use ANY social media platforms for this reason.

 

[Tygie]

These days, the use of social media apps has become incredibly popular with Australian users—and for good reason! They allow us to connect with our friends and family no matter where they are and share stories, photos and videos.

However, with the rise of the digital era, there are new perils that emerge. One of them being potential threats to your privacy.

As you’ve been opening up apps and scrolling through thousands of messages daily, we may not realise that these handy little tools could be cracking open a window to our personal lives for prying eyes.

View attachment 26479

MPs have raised serious concerns over the use of some popular phone apps. Credit: Brian Ramirez/Pexels

Speaking of which, you've heard of the big names like Facebook, WhatsApp, and possibly even TikTok, but have you heard of WeChat?

Primarily popular in China but also used by a significant number of people in Australia, WeChat is a unique platform that combines features commonplace to WhatsApp and Facebook, but it also lets users do a lot more, right from simple text-based conversations to shopping, gaming, and even booking doctor appointments.

However, it sounds like this all-in-one communication and mobile commerce solution is currently facing unwelcome scrutiny on Australian shores.

Federal MPs are reportedly encouraging tougher restrictions on social media platforms, WeChat included, because of concerns about foreign interference and alleged spying activities.

View attachment 26480

Federal MPs have called for tougher restrictions on social media platforms, including a potential ban on the Chinese messaging service WeChat. Credit: Shutterstock

The call for restrictions is rooted in fears about China's governmental involvement with companies such as WeChat's parent company, Tencent, and the social video app TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.

A recent report from a group of senators studying how foreign countries use social media to potentially influence Australian affairs has made several suggestions, one of them being enforcing regulations on transparency.

An alarming issue raised in the report hints at how China's intelligence services oblige companies like TikTok and WeChat to cooperate with them secretly.

The MPs are suggesting that the federal government seriously consider banning the use of WeChat on government devices and even discuss the possibility of extending the existing TikTok ban to devices used by contractors.

As per the committee chair Coalition Senator Paterson, companies like WeChat and TikTok pose 'unique national security risks'. This is presumably due to their parent companies being based in China and, therefore, subject to its national security laws.

‘Platforms like TikTok and WeChat that are subject to the control of authoritarian regimes illustrate the broader cyber security risk to sensitive government information,’ Senator Paterson said.

The report posits that foreign interference and espionage are the largest security issues Australia is currently facing. They have the potential to compromise the country's government, academic sector, industry, media, and local communities.

Back in April, the federal government had already banned the use of TikTok on politicians' and public servants' work devices due to privacy and security risks.

This action followed similar restrictions implemented by countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, and New Zealand, which also prohibited the use of the app on government devices.

Key Takeaways

• Federal MPs have called for tougher restrictions on social media platforms, including a potential ban on WeChat, due to foreign interference concerns.
• A report by senators highlights the need for transparency regulations and how the parent companies of TikTok and WeChat, which are based in China, are required to cooperate with local intelligence agencies.
• The report states foreign interference and espionage represent the largest security threat to Australia’s government, academic sector, industry, media, and local communities.
• The federal government had previously banned TikTok on the work phones of public servants and politicians due to major security and privacy risks, a move that was also taken by nations like the US, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand.

While WeChat may not be a platform we talk about often in the SDC, it’s worth keeping an eye on the story for its potential ripple effects–not just on global politics but on how we communicate in the digital age.

What are your thoughts on this, members? Do you use WeChat, and will you support a ban as proposed by our these officials? Tell us below!

Social media is EVIL. I don't use it. Never will.

 

[maigret]

These days, the use of social media apps has become incredibly popular with Australian users—and for good reason! They allow us to connect with our friends and family no matter where they are and share stories, photos and videos.

However, with the rise of the digital era, there are new perils that emerge. One of them being potential threats to your privacy.

As you’ve been opening up apps and scrolling through thousands of messages daily, we may not realise that these handy little tools could be cracking open a window to our personal lives for prying eyes.

View attachment 26479

MPs have raised serious concerns over the use of some popular phone apps. Credit: Brian Ramirez/Pexels

Speaking of which, you've heard of the big names like Facebook, WhatsApp, and possibly even TikTok, but have you heard of WeChat?

Primarily popular in China but also used by a significant number of people in Australia, WeChat is a unique platform that combines features commonplace to WhatsApp and Facebook, but it also lets users do a lot more, right from simple text-based conversations to shopping, gaming, and even booking doctor appointments.

However, it sounds like this all-in-one communication and mobile commerce solution is currently facing unwelcome scrutiny on Australian shores.

Federal MPs are reportedly encouraging tougher restrictions on social media platforms, WeChat included, because of concerns about foreign interference and alleged spying activities.

View attachment 26480

Federal MPs have called for tougher restrictions on social media platforms, including a potential ban on the Chinese messaging service WeChat. Credit: Shutterstock

The call for restrictions is rooted in fears about China's governmental involvement with companies such as WeChat's parent company, Tencent, and the social video app TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.

A recent report from a group of senators studying how foreign countries use social media to potentially influence Australian affairs has made several suggestions, one of them being enforcing regulations on transparency.

An alarming issue raised in the report hints at how China's intelligence services oblige companies like TikTok and WeChat to cooperate with them secretly.

The MPs are suggesting that the federal government seriously consider banning the use of WeChat on government devices and even discuss the possibility of extending the existing TikTok ban to devices used by contractors.

As per the committee chair Coalition Senator Paterson, companies like WeChat and TikTok pose 'unique national security risks'. This is presumably due to their parent companies being based in China and, therefore, subject to its national security laws.

‘Platforms like TikTok and WeChat that are subject to the control of authoritarian regimes illustrate the broader cyber security risk to sensitive government information,’ Senator Paterson said.

The report posits that foreign interference and espionage are the largest security issues Australia is currently facing. They have the potential to compromise the country's government, academic sector, industry, media, and local communities.

Back in April, the federal government had already banned the use of TikTok on politicians' and public servants' work devices due to privacy and security risks.

This action followed similar restrictions implemented by countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, and New Zealand, which also prohibited the use of the app on government devices.

Key Takeaways

• Federal MPs have called for tougher restrictions on social media platforms, including a potential ban on WeChat, due to foreign interference concerns.
• A report by senators highlights the need for transparency regulations and how the parent companies of TikTok and WeChat, which are based in China, are required to cooperate with local intelligence agencies.
• The report states foreign interference and espionage represent the largest security threat to Australia’s government, academic sector, industry, media, and local communities.
• The federal government had previously banned TikTok on the work phones of public servants and politicians due to major security and privacy risks, a move that was also taken by nations like the US, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand.

While WeChat may not be a platform we talk about often in the SDC, it’s worth keeping an eye on the story for its potential ripple effects–not just on global politics but on how we communicate in the digital age.

What are your thoughts on this, members? Do you use WeChat, and will you support a ban as proposed by our these officials? Tell us below!

this may be old news - found this article from 2020: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/wechat-spying-on-foreigners/

 

[maigret]

and this article from 2021 that provides info on video apps that don't spy: https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/wechat/