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Chinese internet companies are bullying their users, according to state media
Tech companies blasted in People’s Daily for changing users’ default homepage and collecting too much information
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This article originally appeared on ABACUS
While Chinese state media outlets blast the US for bullying China in the escalating trade dispute, they’re also blasting Chinese tech companies for bullying their users.
The state-owned newspaper People’s Daily published four articles in the past two weeks criticizing what it calls “technology bullying” in the form of browser hijacking and excessive app permissions. Even as Chinese authorities have tightened their grip on the internet to “clean up the cyber environment,” the two problems remain a headache for many internet users.
The primary focus of the series of articles was browser hijacking. Even if you’re not familiar with the term, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced it. One of the most common forms of browser hijacking is seeing your homepage changed after installing new software.
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In some cases, homepages are changed to get more eyeballs on sites that rely on traffic and ad revenue. In more serious cases, these pages can carry malware that aims to steal personal information. The examples cited by People’s Daily are mostly web portals that guide users to other sites.
Kingsoft Antivirus and Qihoo 360, two of the most popular security software makers mentioned in the reports, both operate their own web portals. Users quoted in the stories say their browsers were changed to these sites without their consent after downloading the companies’ antivirus software.
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In traditional Chinese fashion, the two companies sent executives to the People’s Daily office where they told reporters they will “improve self-discipline,” according to the state newspaper.
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