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China orders more apps removed in crackdown on personal data violations

  • At least six apps highlighted in CCTV’s annual consumer rights exposé have been removed from app stores
  • The move comes as Beijing intensifies scrutiny on personal data collection by tech companies

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People play with their smartphones at a shopping district in Beijing, China, on July 23, 2014. Photo: EPA
Minghe Hu
A browser owned by Alibaba Group Holding and a search engine from security giant Qihoo 360 are among several apps that have disappeared from major Chinese app stores after being named and shamed by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) in its recently aired annual consumer rights show, intensifying Beijing’s campaign against unauthorised collection and use of personal data and other malpractices by tech companies.
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UC Browser, 360 Search and a host of other tech products were called out in Monday’s CCTV exposé, which has been broadcast every year since 1991 on March 15 to mark World Consumer Rights Day. The Alibaba and Qihoo 360 apps were accused of showing false medical advertisements. Both were no longer found on app stores run by Xiaomi and Tencent Holdings on Wednesday.

Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.

On Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) also ordered the country’s biggest app stores to remove four apps, which help users optimise their smartphones’ performance by managing storage space and memory. They allegedly tricked users into downloading the software and violated regulations on personal data protection, according to a statement posted on MIIT’s website.

The ministry also said it arranged for regulators in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangdong to investigate the companies behind those apps, said the MIIT. Most of the apps are no longer available for download in popular Chinese app stores.

A motorist travels past an Alibaba office building in Shanghai, China, on December 24, 2020. Photo: Bloomberg
A motorist travels past an Alibaba office building in Shanghai, China, on December 24, 2020. Photo: Bloomberg

Alibaba’s UCWeb and 360 Search both apologised on Monday. UCWeb said it had immediately removed the illegal advertisements, while 360 Search said it has set up an investigation team to look into the issues. Both vowed to strengthen their review procedures.

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