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University of California Tells Students Not To Use WeChat, WhatsApp In China (cnn.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNN: Students and faculty at the University of California (UC) have been warned not to use messaging apps and social media while visiting China, for fear their communications could be used against them by the country's law enforcement agencies. The guidance from one of the biggest school networks in the U.S. is the latest concern to be raised over Western travel to China following the December 1 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of U.S. authorities.

The UC guidance also appeared to reference the case of Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen arrested in Russia last month on suspicion of espionage. "While the use of WhatsApp, WeChat and like messaging apps are legal in China, we have seen in the latest espionage charge of a U.S. citizen in Russia where the use of WhatsApp has been cited in his espionage charges," read an email seen by CNN. "Our concern here is the possibility China could use this condition similarly against western travelers to levy charges or as an excuse to deny departure. We recommend not using these messaging apps in China at this time."

69 comments

  1. Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ... warns socialist students that their normal day to day activities in a socialist nation might get them arrested, imprisoned, and re-educated.

    Oh, the irony.

    1. Re:Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      China also calls itself a Republic. So does North Korea.

      Does that make them Republican?

    2. Re:Socialist School... by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

      North Korea calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Does that make them Democrat?

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    3. Re:Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the kind of republic Trumpers seem to want, so yes.

    4. Re:Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Exactly! We have to be prudent with the Internet and that's why we moved forward with an official warning.

      Take Chris for example, it seems like he is a victim of abuse. He keeps on reading those SEO, youtube algorithm, basically get rich quick sites. He doesn't realize that he is the fish for them since they make money off him with their own schemes. Then, he wastes his time trying to implement what those sites suggest and he ends up disturbing people.

      I mean, those crooks tell Chris that he has to build personal brands and he goes on the Internet and makes everything about himself public!

      I believe we should bring this up at our next meeting. He might not be our only patient victim of such on-line abuse.

      https://www.researchgate.net/p...

      --
      Silvia Bunge
      Psychology Department
      University of California, Berkeley

    5. Re:Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, look at who's acting authoritarian in the US. Hint: it's not the independents or liberals.

    6. Re:Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Wow! Silvia Bunge must protect her copyrights or risk losing it!

    7. Re:Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe that's what you get if you mix both?

    8. Re:Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      North Korea calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Does that make them Democrat?

      Well, all Democrats are commies, aren't they? /s

    9. Re: Socialist School... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oops

    10. Re:Socialist School... by WorBlux · · Score: 1

      No, it's just marketing. The PR is the a Republican (representative) and democratic (elected) government is better than all others. It's like all new tech products are claimed to be "disruptive innovations". The full/traditional party names of the major U.S. parties are Democratic Republicans, and the Republican Democrats, and before 1930 the Democratic Republicans were really into the republican highlights (separation of powers, checks and balances, limited government, the party of Jefferson and Jackson) and the Republican democrats were into the will of the people stuff (central regulation, infrastructure projects, popular reforms, the party of Lincoln, McKinley and Teddy Rosevelt). Sometime between WWI and FDR they did a flip though and the shortened names were more apt.

      However trying to classify foreign parties in terms of U.S parties isn't really that helpful because of that flip, and because the U.S. history and circumstance is going to be different that what you're comparing to.

  2. China is a criminal cabal, not a country. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Get used to it.

    1. Re: China is a criminal cabal, not a country. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its worse than just sitting around doing nothing

    2. Re: China is a criminal cabal, not a country. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All the Chinese dudes have tiny dicks, so just whip out your big ass American hog, wave it around, and they will be intimidated and in awe as you helicopter yourself out of the situation. Problem solved.

    3. Re: China is a criminal cabal, not a country. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Who in their right mind would ever go to Dogeaterstan? It's run by fucking ACTUAL fascists. Fuck China, I'd sooner go to North Korea.

      They want to pretend like they're going to attack US warships transiting the straight of Taiwan, god I hope those squinty bastards try it.

    4. Re:China is a criminal cabal, not a country. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course, and other countries are the greatest countries created in gods image and protecting freedom and democracy. What are you like 2 years old?

    5. Re:China is a criminal cabal, not a country. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They learned it from the US who also arrests people on fake charges breaking some US law when not in the US.

    6. Re: China is a criminal cabal, not a country. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Problem solved.

      Or you could just fuck off back to imperial court.

  3. Moron doesn't know communism from socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    It's always hilarious to educated people that Republicans can't ever manage to tell the difference between socialism and communism.

    It's as if all Republicans enjoy being retarded and wrong about everything, like Putin gave out free handjobs for that. I bet Trump Jr. might though.

    1. Re: Moron doesn't know communism from socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am a democrat and I agree with OP. Not everyone you disagree with is an evil Trump Nazi, calm down.

    2. Re:Moron doesn't know communism from socialism by WorBlux · · Score: 1

      According to Marx's definitions, no nation-state has ever been communist in form. (In fact, the fact there is a formal nation-state contract-indicates a communist society. Socialism is state control of the means of production (weather nominally private or public), whereas communism is a utopia anarchic state where the means of production are freely available to all, and the output taken as needed by anyone. Marx says a socialist revolution is the first step to communism, but the transition to the second state never occurs, and the established party resists attempts to push further.

    3. Re:Moron doesn't know communism from socialism by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you should read some Marx, Lenin or Hitler; their movements were considered socialism (more extreme versions of the French socialist philosophers). Communism is just a socialist government taken to its end goal, as Marx clearly stated in his communist manifesto, democratic capitalism must fail through the mechanism of democratic socialism in order to bring about communism (dictatorship by the masses/proletariat).

      Socialism is a great idea, if you have unlimited funds (or energy) and there is no reason for anyone to ever need something from someone else.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
  4. My government tells me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    My government tells me not to bring laptops or phones with me to the USA for fear they could be used against me by the country's law enforcement agencies.

    1. Re:My government tells me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      That is true. If you're hiding shit the US government wants, don't come here. Stay home.

  5. Fuck you I do what I want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    I do what I want go fuck yourself school

  6. Learn to be careful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You pretty much have to use WeChat in China. Most others are banned.

    But you need to be constantly aware that everything you post might be read and possibly misinterpreted by a paranoid censor who may mark it against you. Unlikely to be arrested, but you may not be let back into the country.

    So keep it very clean and simple.

    This is exactly the same behaviour that you should also use with western social media. The problem is not nearly as bad, but it still exists. So going to China is probably a good thing in teaching discipline.

    1. Re:Learn to be careful by vik · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Absolutely agree. Going to China made me realise how dependent we'd become on a very few communications service providers, all of which have government hooks deeply embedded. Worse, the West has an open season on corporate information gathering and trading schemes using said services.

      In China, I used WeChat because it is used for every damn thing over there. However, on my return I became very keen on promoting Open Whisper Systems' Signal, using DuckDuckGo.com instead of Google, abandoning Facebook except for communication with uneducated family members, and not physically taking my data through borders in any recognisable form.

    2. Re:Learn to be careful by vik · · Score: 1

      PS One thing I didn't get in China was spam.

    3. Re:Learn to be careful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unlikely to be arrested.
      So the current China is less fascist than current day Turkey.
      If you're a foreigner in Turkey and have criticized their government on the internet, that may land you in jail for supporting terrorism.

    4. Re:Learn to be careful by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Indeed, WhatsApp is banned in China. If students are using it there they must be also using TOR or an illegal VPN service like Private Internet Access to bypass the firewall.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    5. Re:Learn to be careful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It works normally there, as long as you installed it outside.

  7. True Everywhere? by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Isn't that true everywhere? In fact, doesn't the US currently have a policy where agents are allowed to access everything on any device that you bring into or out of the US without even any reason for suspicion?

    The problem is not that the Chinese police may access your device it is that they are looking extremely hard for any, even trivial, violation of their laws so they can arrest you to try and get leverage against the US just like they have been doing with Canada.

    1. Re: True Everywhere? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So the rule of law is a big farce then...... got it.

    2. Re:True Everywhere? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People disappear in China HOURLY without ever being accused of a real crime, lest of all facing a real trial, you equivocating faggot. YOU should see the inside of a Chinese prison for a few, Roger MORON.

    3. Re: True Everywhere? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It took you this long to figure it out?

    4. Re:True Everywhere? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People disappear in China HOURLY

      Citation needed.

    5. Re:True Everywhere? by larryjoe · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Isn't that true everywhere? In fact, doesn't the US currently have a policy where agents are allowed to access everything on any device that you bring into or out of the US without even any reason for suspicion?

      Yes, but only at the border. Elsewhere, there are more restrictions on government access.

      The problem is not that the Chinese police may access your device it is that they are looking extremely hard for any, even trivial, violation of their laws so they can arrest you to try and get leverage against the US just like they have been doing with Canada.

      Yes, privacy is part of the problem, in that the Chinese are looking for more details. However, the real problem is what they are willing to do with that data. Even seemingly innocent statements that might be viewed by the Chinese need to be self-censored, whereas in the US, people are free to openly, loudly, and repeatedly criticize the President and call for his removal or to directly call for the overthrow of the US government.

    6. Re:True Everywhere? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      citation needed

    7. Re: True Everywhere? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is democratic western democracies donâ(TM)t play hardball in kind: You China imprison on political charges one of ours weâ(TM)ll grab one of yours. Ditto Iran, Russia, North Korea. Well for kicks and laughs Iâ(TM)d leave dumbass USA citizens who periodically / invariably are abducted (surprise, surprise, dumbfuckers) strandedâ"-fuck you, Dennis Rodman, Bill Richardson, Bill Clinton, Reverend XYZ. You too evangelical Korean-Americans.

  8. How's life in your ivory tower? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    You just keep looking down on those you so despise.

    Keep telling yourself how ignorant they are, how they're all a bunch of buck teethed yokles who are too foolish to understand science, reason, politics, philosophy, or religion (or, perhaps in your case, the lack thereof).

    Keep spending their money - because they're the ones you want to tax into oblivion so this time, this time, you can implement your socialist paradise the Right Way (tm).

    See how all that works out for you.

    While you're waiting, you might look to what's going on in France today. One of your socialist giants seems to well neigh have a revolution on his hands. Wonder what he did to make that happen.

    1. Re:How's life in your ivory tower? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      There is no waiting. Republicans are not only proud of thier ignorance, they believe whatever they want is real. There is no discussion possible when instead of well intentioned rational discourse, one side simply shits themselves and starts throwing it.

    2. Re: How's life in your ivory tower? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The reason why we refuse to discuss anything with people like you is because you canâ(TM)t speak without resorting to insults and slurs.

      You say anyone who disagrees with you is an idiot. That is what is closing the door to discussion. When you realize that your worldview is not the only one that exists and can conduct yourself in a professional and respectful manner then we will talk.

      Until that time just keep doing what you are doing and so shall we.

    3. Re: How's life in your ivory tower? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ^^ Republicans are not only proud of thier ignorance, they believe whatever they want is real. There is no discussion possible when instead of well intentioned rational discourse, one side simply shits themselves and starts throwing it.

      Until you die, you will be a cowardly treasonous enemy of the people, GOP.

    4. Re: How's life in your ivory tower? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get back to wiping tables, bitch

  9. In other news, Mexico warns about FlexiSpy by ffkom · · Score: 1

    as residents of Mexico currently face sentencing based on evidence collected from their use of the FlexiSpy mobile app. And that is even if their travel to the US is involuntary, as Mr. Guzmán told us.

  10. Hacked by hawguy · · Score: 1, Insightful

    But feel free to use the apps in the USA, the land of the free, where the NSA has either hacked or forced their way into the apps via secret national security letters.

    1. Re:Hacked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      How have you been ever harmed by it? People disappear in China HOURLY, you equivocating faggot. 1,000,000+ Uighurs, no crime accused. YOU should see the inside of a Chinese prison for a few, punkass.

    2. Re:Hacked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But feel free to use the apps in the USA, the land of the free, where the NSA has either hacked or forced their way into the apps via secret national security letters.

      We have bigger problems than the NSA, Jesus watches is when we masturbate, my pastor said so. Talk about chilling effect on free speech.

  11. Chinese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    " all of which have government hooks deeply embedded. " - And yet in China, they're COMMUNIST PARTY OWNED ENTIRELY, and people disappear off the streets forever swept up by said party.

    Anyone who goes to China is asking to die in a prison without a trial. It's a criminal cabal, not a country.

  12. WhatsApp end-to-end encryption? by shubus · · Score: 1

    We should know by now that China severely monitors dissenters there using WeChat. But WhatsAPP supposedly has end-to-end encryption in which case how are they monitoring that app? Of course we know Facebook owns WhatsApp so have they created a special version for China with a backdoor?

    1. Re:WhatsApp end-to-end encryption? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Unless there has been a very recent change (doubtful), WhatsApp does not work in China.

      WeChat is nearly universal. It is used for way more than just messaging. You can't buy rice without it.

  13. Someone got arrested in Russia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and they issue warnings for going to China?

    Did UC administration failed at basic geography or what?

    1. Re: Someone got arrested in Russia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most peope don't have maps and such, like.

  14. No China for me by AndyKron · · Score: 2

    Why would someone even want to go to China? They can arrest you just because they feel like it and you don't have any recourse. Not my idea of fun.

    1. Re:No China for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly. The warning shouldn't be "don't use these apps when you go to China", it should be "Don't fucking go to China, moron."

    2. Re:No China for me by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why would someone even want to go to China? They can arrest you just because they feel like it and you don't have any recourse.

      How is that different from being arrested in the USA because your name happens to match that of a terror suspect or a media pirate on a secret list?

      I don't have any concrete numbers, but I bet the chance of getting arresting in the USA during travel for dubious reasons is roughly the same.

    3. Re:No China for me by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Why would someone even want to go to China?

      1. My job requires me to go.
      2. The food is fantastic.
      3. The girls are really cute.

      They can arrest you just because they feel like it and you don't have any recourse. Not my idea of fun.

      An American is four times more likely to be arrested and incarcerated.

      China is very safe. Just don't stick you nose into local politics, and you are not going to have any problem. This is a good idea when visiting any country.

    4. Re: No China for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You donâ(TM)t need to bet. Number of Canadians locked up by USA is greater than number of Canadians locked up by China.

    5. Re: No China for me by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      But you Canadians are such dodgy people. You get people too full to move via bacon and maple pancakes, then whack them with hockey sticks. I saw it on South Monty Park.

    6. Re: No China for me by bn-7bc · · Score: 1

      Yeaand where do modt canadians go the US or China? My guess would be the US, so the chsce of n canadians ending up behind bars are peobwbky greater in The US than in China alltho itis brobably a lot easier to get arrested in China.

  15. Go to China at Your Own Risk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you travel to China or another authoritarian country, then you do so at your own risk. You should not expect us Americans to expend our political or financial resources to rescue you.

    1. Re:Go to China at Your Own Risk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should not expect us Americans to expend our political or financial resources to rescue you.

      Amen. This should be made crystal clear to every American leaving the United States. If you go out of bounds, we will not come after you.

  16. Go to China at Your Own Risk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you travel to China or another authoritarian country, then you do so at your own risk. You should not expect us Americans to expend our political or financial resources to rescue you.

  17. student by KolesnikovaAnna · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I kept score on homework in the University so much that even my friends are party people began to worry about me. I felt lost and didn't understand what I really wanted from life, what grades could I think of? Of course, the edge of consciousness, I realized that it is necessary to make at least a little effort, but did nothing. In the end, my friend said that I should at least order the finished work, if I can not do it myself and shared a link to the site, where he once ordered the research work https://www.essaymission.com.au/. I was able to get out of my teenage crisis and start learning, but still sometimes I use the advice of my friend, as laziness happens to everyone, and good grades are not so easy to get)

  18. Don't Visit China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The US State Department ought to place China on the list of countries that it advises Americans to avoid while reminding them that if the choose to go anyway, they're on their own and we won't rescue them. Visiting China is a good way to end up as a hostage or worse. Americans with any sense will avoid going there.

  19. Actually... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually, if universities were really smart, they would be telling students and faculty to never visit a communist country.

  20. Citations you ask? by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

    People disappear in China HOURLY

    Citation needed.

    Probably I link to a blog with run-on sentences and a high ALL-CAPS to words ratio at realtruthyredbloodedpatriotfreedomnews.blogspot.com titled "You Won't Believe What Happens in Commie China! The Incoming Yellow Peril11".

  21. So much paranoia... by Aliks · · Score: 1

    All I can hear is the sound of propaganda against a rival economy - there seems to be a steady stream of these negative stories aiming to support a narrative that China is somehow worse than all other big countries, and not a good place to do business.

    We went to China on holiday in September, cruised down the Yangtze (Chang Jiang) through the 3 gorges visited Chengdu and ChongQing. I can tell you this is a modern, prosperous country with friendly people, a long fascinating history - and a great future ahead.

    We used Wechat, etc etc without problems, and I have little doubt that many different countries (and some companies) have full access to everything on our accounts. I do doubt that anyone is combing through the material to find reasons to arrest tourists. If anyone has a list of actual arrests, please share it . . . .

  22. FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We had some drug dealers going down based on stuff that was on their whatsapp here in Brazil too. They were arrested, their phones checked and used against them. That's normal.
    If a car was in the charges they would also tell people not to get inside vehicles in China?
    If you use whatsapp for spying, your phone is caught and the decrypted communications show a crime, it will be used in charges. It doesn't matter much what country you are in.
    Weechat you have to use in China, at least to order a meal in restaurants. Everybody knows it is not encrypted and checked, so it is much safer to use (just cause you know not to talk stuff that might get you in trouble).