Advertisement
Xiaomi
TechBig Tech

Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 blocks some app installations in China, say users worried about surveillance

  • Users in mainland China say they are unable to install certain apps after upgrading to Xiaomi’s latest firmware
  • A Xiaomi spokesman said the company’s anti-fraud feature is designed to flag spam calls

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
MIX 4 smartphones are displayed for sale at a Xiaomi store in downtown Beijing, China, on September 8, 2021. Photo: Simon Song
Che Pan

Xiaomi smartphone users in China have raised concerns that the Chinese gadget maker is preventing some mobile apps from being installed on their handsets, prompting questions over a new feature introduced in its latest operating system (OS).

Discussions about Xiaomi’s anti-fraud function started trending on Chinese social media after Xiaomi launched its MIUI 13 software last Tuesday. The update is currently available for the company’s recent flagship products, including the Mi 11 and Mi 11 Pro, while older devices will receive the update in three batches, with the last one slated for May.

One user, who works as a programmer and owns a Xiaomi MIX 4 smartphone, told the South China Morning Post that the MIUI 13 had blocked him from installing an app that lets users quickly switch between 5G and 4G networks. The issue persisted even when the security check option was turned off. He was suddenly able to install the app on Wednesday evening.

Some apps that are banned in mainland China, such as YouTube and ExpressVPN, remain unaffected, said the user, who requested anonymity for fear of government retribution for using these apps.

“I am worried that my phone will become a monitor,” he said. “I am considering replacing the firmware with the overseas version.”

A screen capture made by a Xiaomi smartphone user shows a message that says “installation is prohibited by relevant laws and regulations” when he tried to install a 5G switch app.
A screen capture made by a Xiaomi smartphone user shows a message that says “installation is prohibited by relevant laws and regulations” when he tried to install a 5G switch app.

Users attributed the blockage to Xiaomi’s “system-level full-link anti-telecoms fraud” function, which is designed to flag suspicious phone calls and text messages, block the installation of fraudulent apps, and prevent users from engaging in risky money transfers, said Jin Fan, Xiaomi’s head of MIUI, during the company’s product event on December 28.

Advertisement