The country’s defence department said the service did not meet its standards, although it did not directly link the ban to security concerns.

“Software and applications that do not meet Defence standards will not be authorised for use on Defence networks and mobile devices,” the country’s defence department said in an email statement. “Defence has a strict policy concerning the use of social media on its networks and mobile devices. Defence allows very few applications on Defence mobile devices. WeChat has not been authorised for use. “

Late last year the US military banned the use of drones made by China’s DJI, the world’s largest maker of the devices, citing “cyber vulnerabilities.” Other Chinese technologies have come under scrutiny, with a plan by mobile phone maker Huawei for a tie-up with US telecoms firm AT&T falling through under US government pressure.

The Australian Financial Review newspaper reported last month that US security officials had voiced concerns about Chinese involvement in the development of fast 5G networks in Australia. Also in January the US blocked the US$1.2 billion sale of money transfer firm Moneygram to China’s Ant Financial, the digital payments arm of Alibaba, while in September Chinese-backed Canyon Bridge Capital Partners’ US$1.3 billion bid for Lattice Semiconductor was rejected.

Analysts said the ban on WeChat for military personnel was most likely a political move, but was in line with policies in other countries.

“It is obvious that Australia is standing on the same side as the US and follows its steps. The WeChat ban is more a political behaviour to show its support for the US,” said Li Yi, chief fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

“However, it is understandable that the Australian defence department banned staff from using WeChat on concern over messages being monitored by the Chinese government,” Li said.

“It is the same story in most countries, where defence departments have to use authorised software. WhatsApp and Facebook are completely banned in China,” he said.

WeChat, owned by internet giant Tencent, has 1 billion monthly active users globally. Tencent did not reply to requests for comment.

However, the ban does not mean Australia is closed to business with China, others said.

“Australia could learn from WeChat as a payment system,” said Professor Greg Austin, acting director of the Australian Centre for Cyber Security at the University of New South Wales (Canberra).

“Huawei and ZTE will continue to capture market share in Australia regardless of whether the government blocks them from some projects on security grounds.”

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Source: South China Morning Post

The post Australia bans China’s WeChat over security worries appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It follows criticism from Chinese businessman Li Shufu, who recently said the firm “must be watching all our WeChats every day”.

In response the Tencent-owned firm said suggestions that it was watching users was “pure misunderstanding”.

All Chinese social media platforms are required to censor public posts deemed illegal by the government.

Mr Li is quoted in Chinese media reports as saying he believed Tencent monitored everyone’s account.

The high-profile businessman owns Geely Holdings which in turn owns the Volvo car brand. It is one of China’s largest automobile manufacturers and is one of the few not controlled by the government.

Privacy score

In a post on its social media platform in response to his comments, WeChat said it: “does not store any users’ chat history. That is only stored in users’ mobiles, computers and other terminals”.

“WeChat will not use any content from user chats for big data analysis. Because of WeChat’s technical model that does not store or analyse user chats, the rumour that we are watching your WeChat everyday is pure misunderstanding.”

WeChat’s privacy policy states that it may need to retain and disclose users’ information in response to a request by the government or law enforcement.

In a 2016 report on the privacy of messenger apps, compiled by rights activists Amnesty International, Tencent scored zero out of 100.

“Not only did it fail to adequately meet any of the criteria, but it was the only company which has not stated publicly that it will not grant government requests to access encrypted messages by building a ‘backdoor'”, the report read.

In September, the Chinese government fined Tencent, alongside Baidu and Weibo, for failing to properly censor online content, asking them to increase content monitoring methods.

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Source: BBC

The post WeChat denies ‘storing’ chat histories appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.