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China Removes Four News Apps From Smartphone Stores To Tighten Control (scmp.com)

Posted by msmash on from the my-way-or-highway dept.

The mobile apps for four popular news apps in China, including the most popular aggregator, Jinri Toutiao, were removed from a number of Chinese smartphone app stores following reports of a crackdown by the country's media watchdog, local media reported on Monday. From the report: Toutiao, with about 120 million daily active users, was not available on the app stores of smartphone manufacturers Xiaomi and Meizu on Monday afternoon. The apps for Tiantian Kuaibao, Netease News and Ifeng News were also not found on Xiaomi. China's authorities have asked several of the country's smartphone app stores to remove the four apps by 3pm on Monday as part of efforts to "regulate order in the broadcasting environment," according to Chinese news portal Sohu.com. The apps will be removed for between three days to three weeks, with Toutiao being offline for the longest period, according to the Sohu report. [...] China has shut down more than 13,000 websites in the last three years as Beijing sought to tighten its grip on the internet.

23 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. just give me internet browser... by tribalmixes · · Score: 1

    as long as there's still a browser and i can reach my favorite mp3 converter - it's ok with me... everything can be done online these days,

    --
    youtube to mp3 converter
  2. why? by AndyKron · · Score: 1

    How can any Chinese person stand to live in China? I would think they would be revolting or committing suicide by the millions.

    1. Re:why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How can any Chinese person stand to live in China? I would think they would be revolting or committing suicide by the millions.

      Funny you are asking this while the Americans are asking for their government to punish Facebook

      You can't have it both ways, can you?

    2. Re:why? by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

      Perhaps if they knew what they were missing, they might.

      On the other hand, they might not see the level of freedom we take for granted as either necessary or desirable.

      Do note the number of people here who spend time trying to abridge the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth Amendments (usually with some variant of "For the Children" as their rallying cry). So it's not like we don't have a similar impetus to regulate the lives of strangers....

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    3. Re:why? by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 2

      How can any Chinese person stand to live in China? I would think they would be revolting or committing suicide by the millions.

      You may have hear about a little communist revolution they had there, and the totalitarian state that followed.

      Those who opposed them fled to a little island. Or just got slaughtered.

    4. Re:why? by loonycyborg · · Score: 1

      Yeah right, I totally see how a million of Chinese would off themselves for lacking access to some trashy news apps. Because killing self is easier than setting up vpn or tor.

    5. Re:why? by DigiShaman · · Score: 1, Troll

      Because your average Chinese citizen are brainwashed ignoramuses. Worse yet, it's not even a Chinese trait, rather a universal human one. Please see American and their consumption of MSM fake news. Oh Oh!!! But lookie what do we have here? Richard Pan, a California Senator, is introducing a bill to kill free speech as it requires state-sanctioned fact checkers to approve online content . Ministry of Truth!!!

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    6. Re:why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      On the other hand, they might not see the level of freedom we take for granted as either necessary or desirable.

      I have first hand experience (anecdotal, I have to add) with what you suggested. Some years back, while I was still in university, I ended up sharing a flat with a Chinese. And throughout the period we lived together, we talked about this. And he said something along the lines of: "You can't have full freedom, if you want a country of 1.5 billion to work." So yeah, they believe it.
      But people elsewhere don't understand the value of freedom and the problems of mass surveillance, so why do we think the average Chinese should? We seem to be too happy to give it all to Facebook and Google, for the ease of arranging events and GPS directions. If we don't care and we're "free," why should the Chinese, if they never were?

    7. Re:why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Your view is very Western. If they don't question authority they're pretty free to live their day to day lives, and that's enough for most people...

      It wasn't not so long ago we had this scenario in multiple occasions here in Europe. It always ended in mass executions, genocides and war.

    8. Re:why? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      The Supreme Court has ruled govenment cannot be the arbiter of truth w.r.t. the First Amendment, especially in politics.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    9. Re:why? by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      LOL, the rule of law is DEAD in America. The legislative and executive branch will just DDOS the Judicial system. And you know what, people wont care. Ohh look, new model of the Sex Robot 3000! With attachments.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    10. Re:why? by yuriklastalov · · Score: 1

      Because, shock of shocks, the Chinese are not western liberals! Holy fucking shit, I'll bet you'd go along with the proposition that "morality is subjective" but here you are, pretending as though the system you like is the best one.

  3. Just following our lead by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

    Just following our lead ... got to have "fact checkers" keeping us safe from "fake news".

    Can't have people getting unapproved ideas from anywhere.

  4. As the princess said, a relevant quote by sabbede · · Score: 1
    "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."

    But why tighten your grip if you aren't already afraid you're losing it? I think the Party sees the writing on the wall. The development they're pushing contains the seeds of their demise.

    1. Re:As the princess said, a relevant quote by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." ...right after he pulverizes any and everything in said star systems first. The fine dust makes it easier.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  5. Re: Dumb americans by kurkosdr · · Score: 1

    All these products were assembled by Foxconn and whatnot but made using American intellectual property, which China tries to copy, but they will be hit with some sanctions for it. Now go back to blowing commie dicks.

  6. So? by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    California is mulling an idea where websites will be responsible for things posted, and must be fact checked by the state government for "truth". Once you start down the road, there will be no turning back. I don't care for about 75% of the crap on the web, but, I simply IGNORE it.

    1. Re:So? by barc0001 · · Score: 1

      You have a link to back up that rather interesting assertion?

    2. Re:So? by jwymanm · · Score: 1

      Sadly, even if the above isn't true it will probably be true within 5-10 years.

  7. Re:Dumb americans by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 2

    > Protectionism is a GOOD thing.

    Only cowards censor.

    In an enlightened society it is NOT the government's job to determine for me what news I should or should no be allowed to see. Maybe China should try joining the 21st century instead of repressing people's free will.

    > Americans think they're free

    We actually have a choice in what to watch. If I want to watch China Uncensored then I can.

    Maybe China's government should try fixing the root problem instead of knee-jerk reaction to the symptom.

    At least in America:

    * If I want comedy I can watch the news (Faux News, etc.)
    * If I want the news I can watch the comics (LastWeekTonight, etc.)

  8. I'm glad by jwymanm · · Score: 1

    I don't live there. *tries to load backpage.com* oops nevermind.

    1. Re:I'm glad by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      Advertising for illegal things like prostitution is illegal when you are part of the operation. Maybe prostitution shouldn't be illegal, but it is, and advertising for it is, and knowingly providing advertising space for it is, too.

      Note it's the participation that is illegal, not the ad itself, which you can reproduce and talk about as long as you are not part of the operation, like a journalist or facebook meme vector.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    2. Re:I'm glad by jwymanm · · Score: 2

      Both host content not the act. Censoring backpage took down legitimate content with the bad content. Same thing China did. You can argue till you are blue that there was illegal content on backpage but I am sure there was illegal content on the social apps also. Demolishing freedom to eliminate some illegal activities might be a no brainer to you but to me and others the illegal activity was just a tiny red herring. It was to send a message.