China Demands Tencent Submit New Apps, Updates to Inspection Before Being Uploaded: Report

Tencent’s apps and their updates will need to undergo a roughly seven-day-long review before they can be uploaded to app stores.

By Reuters | Updated: 25 November 2021 11:21 IST

China Demands Tencent Submit New Apps, Updates to Inspection Before Being Uploaded: Report

Tencent had been required to do so after some of its apps were found to have infringed users' rights

Highlights

Chinese regulators have mounted wide-ranging crackdown on its tech giants
This has included a step up in checks on mobile apps by regulators
MIIT ordered 38 apps to rectify collection of personal information

China has required Tencent Holdings submit any new apps or updates for inspections before they can be uploaded after a number of its apps were found to have committed violations, Chinese financial media outlet Yicai reported on Wednesday.

Yicai, citing unnamed sources, said the Chinese social media and gaming giant had been required to do so by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) after some of its apps were found to have infringed users' rights and interests.

Chinese authorities are requesting that Tencent's new apps and updates of existing apps are checked before release as some were found to be infringing users' rights, the ministry of industry said today. The tech giant said earlier that its apps are working and can be downloaded. pic.twitter.com/x9WP393tne
— Yicai Global 第一财经 (@yicaichina) November 24, 2021

It also said that MIIT had recently issued a notice to say that between November 24 to December 31, all mobile apps and their updates will need to undergo a roughly seven-day-long review before they can be uploaded to app stores.

Tencent said its apps remained functional and available for download in response to Yicai's and other local media reports.

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"We are continuously working to enhance user protection features within our apps, and also have regular cooperation with relevant government agencies to ensure regulatory compliance. Our apps remain functional and available for download," the company said.

Chinese regulators have in over the past year mounted a wide-ranging crackdown on its tech giants, seeking to dismantle some of the industry's long-held practices after accusing them of monopolistic behaviour and infringing user rights.

This has included a step up in checks on mobile apps by regulators. On November 3, MIIT ordered 38 apps from companies, including those of Tencent, to rectify the excessive collection of personal information.

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© Thomson Reuters 2021

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