Tencent’s WeChat and Kaspersky’s suite of applications have been removed from government-issued mobile devices effective October 30, 2023. Going forward, users of these devices will be blocked from downloading the apps.

WeChat is the super app in China with over 1 billion monthly users, and is a ubiquitous part of daily life in China. You can essentially do everything through WeChat, which is convenient.

However, this convenience comes at a cost. WeChat has monopolized the market to the extent that users have little say in front of the app. Identity verification is mandatory, and the app can suspend accounts at any time. And WeChat has always had the support of the central government, receiving funding, and the government has often restricted or banned competing apps.

  • Wothe
    link
    17
    edit-2
    8 months ago

    Canada banning WeChat is a great idea, for the country’s security and privacy. Speak of that, look at what Elon is doing; he keeps trying to turn Twitter into WeChat, and he won’t stop until he makes it true!

    In case you are not familiar with WeChat and the seriousness of its censorship toward users: 👇

    We have to ditch centralized platforms for our own sake! And there are plenty of choices: Mastodon, Misskey, WireMin, Damus. (PS: WireMin is a combination of a private messenger & social media; it’s my favorite for now because I get to join chat groups for anonymous discussions.)

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      48 months ago

      While I agree that privacy is important the censorship claim in the image is based entirely on “I think”, no proof beyond opinion.

      • @Zoboomafoo
        link
        48 months ago

        “There’s no proof of censorship in the USSR, I can go to the Party Library and read whatever books I want”

    • @tiouteOP
      link
      28 months ago

      deleted by creator

      • Wothe
        link
        38 months ago

        deleted by creator