James Clayton, North America Tech Reporter, explains why WeChat is considered riskier than TikTok. Kerry Allen, China Media Analyst, discusses the tightly controlled nature of social media in China and the secret emoji code to avoid censorship. James Reynolds, a BBC correspondent, paints a picture of what Gaza was like before the recent escalation with Israel.
WeChat, a popular Chinese app, is facing growing concerns over security and spying, with Canada recently banning it from government devices.
Social media platforms like WeChat in China are heavily regulated, strictly moderated, and employ creative tactics to express dissent, despite strict censorship.
Deep dives
Concerns about WeChat's Security and Spying
WeChat, a popular Chinese app, is facing growing concerns over security and spying. Canada has recently banned WeChat from government devices due to these concerns. Users of WeChat have limited access to content, with strict censorship and consequences for offensive or politically sensitive posts. While the app offers messaging and networking functions, it also serves as an all-in-one platform for services like mobile payments and QR code scanning. WeChat's widespread use in China, with around 70% of the adult population active on the app, makes it a dominant force in the country.
Censorship and Creativity on Chinese Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo in China are heavily regulated and strictly moderated. There are pages of terms and conditions that discourage users from posting anything critical of the government. Auto-sensored words prevent discussions on sensitive topics, such as the Tiananmen Square protests. Despite strict censorship, Chinese users employ creative tactics to express dissent, using symbols and emojis to symbolize sensitive keywords or finding alternative ways to talk about banned topics. While censorship remains tightly controlled, social media plays a role in fostering grassroots movements and discussions on societal frustrations.
Growing Backlash and Security Concerns Surrounding Chinese Social Media
Chinese social media platforms, including WeChat and TikTok, have faced increasing backlash and security concerns from various countries. The worry stems from potential data privacy issues, with fears that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. While the owners of these platforms deny such claims, countries like Canada have taken measures to ban WeChat from government devices. The unique features and widespread use of these Chinese social media apps raise questions about security and surveillance practices on these platforms.
Canada has banned the all-in-one Chinese social media app, WeChat, on government devices. Even though TikTok has received loads of attention for potential security risks, many security experts think that WeChat is riskier. James Clayton, our North America Tech Reporter, explains.
And Kerry Allen, our China Media Analyst, takes us through how tightly controlled social media is in China itself. There’s even secret emoji code to avoid censorship.
(10:45) Also, what was Gaza like before this latest escalation with Israel? The BBC’s James Reynolds was previously a correspondent in Jerusalem and spent a lot of time in Gaza. He paints us a picture of what it was like when he was there.
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes
Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks
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