Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) has issued a warning regarding the security risks associated with several China-developed applications, including RedNote (Xiaohongshu), Weibo, TikTok, WeChat, and Baidu Cloud. These apps are being scrutinized due to their extensive data collection practices and the transfer of user data back to servers in China.
The warning follows an investigation co-conducted with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) and the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB). The NSB’s findings revealed significant security issues, particularly the apps’ tendency to gather excessive personal data and infringe on user privacy. Citizens are encouraged to be cautious when selecting mobile applications.
The evaluation process assessed the apps against 15 specific indicators related to five categories: personal data collection, excessive permission usage, data sharing, system information extraction, and biometric data access. The results were alarming; RedNote violated all 15 indicators, while Weibo and TikTok breached 13. WeChat and Baidu Cloud managed to infringe upon 10 and 9 indicators, respectively.
Each of these applications was found to collect a variety of sensitive data, including facial recognition scans, clipboard contents, contact lists, and geographic locations. Additionally, they were noted for gathering the list of installed apps and device parameters. The agency expressed serious concerns regarding the data packets sent back to Chinese servers, indicating significant risks of misuse by third parties.
The NSB also highlighted the legal obligations of companies operating in China to release user data in compliance with local laws concerning national security and public safety. This requirement raises fears regarding user privacy for Taiwanese individuals.
This warning comes in the wake of similar actions taken by other nations, including India, which has banned several Chinese apps over security fears. Canada also ordered TikTok to cease operations within its borders in late 2024, while the app’s fate in the U.S. remains uncertain, facing ongoing delays on a federal ban.
The NSB strongly recommends that the public be vigilant about mobile device security and advises against the use of China-made apps that could jeopardize personal data privacy and corporate secrets.
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