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

Posted by BeauHD on from the heed-my-warning dept.

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."

9 of 69 comments (clear)

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

    Get used to it.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 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.

  4. 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.
  5. 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.

  6. 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 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.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.