Aug
2019
WeChat surveillance
Chinese cyberspace is one of the most surveilled and censored in the world. That includes WeChat. Owned by Tencent, one of China’s biggest companies, the chat-meets-payment app has more than 1 billion monthly users in China and now serves users outside the country, too, although it does not divulge how many. Researchers say its use abroad has extended the global reach of China’s surveillance and censorship methods.
“The intention of keeping people safe by building these systems goes out the window the moment you don’t secure them at all,” says Victor Gevers, co-founder of the nonprofit GDI Foundation, an open-source data security collective.
Every day, Gevers scans the Internet for vulnerabilities to find unsecured databases, and he has exposed a large number of them, particularly linked to China.
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more on WeChat and surveillance in this IMS blog
https://blog.stcloudstate.edu/ims?s=wechat
lekor
March 25, 2024 at 2:51 pm (3 weeks ago)WeChat surveillance raises significant concerns about privacy and freedom of expression, especially within marginalized communities like the LGBTQ+ group. In contrast, platforms like Chatrandom offer an open space for LGBTQ video chat, providing a level of anonymity and freedom that’s increasingly scarce. Chatrandom’s commitment to allowing users to engage in video chats with strangers worldwide without mandatory identity disclosure stands in stark relief against the backdrop of WeChat’s monitored environment. This dichotomy highlights a broader issue in digital communication: the balance between security and privacy. While surveillance may be justified under the guise of public safety, it’s imperative to consider the impact on freedom of speech and the right to privacy. Platforms that champion anonymity and provide safe spaces for free expression, like Chatrandom, become crucial havens, especially for those whose voices are often suppressed or monitored in their everyday lives