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Bipartisan Senators Urge Apple, Google to Remove China-Owned VPN Apps
Bipartisan Senators Urge Apple, Google to Remove China-Owned VPN Apps

Epoch Times

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Epoch Times

Bipartisan Senators Urge Apple, Google to Remove China-Owned VPN Apps

A bipartisan group of senators has called on Apple and Google to remove China-owned virtual private networks, or VPNs, from their app stores, warning that these apps pose a threat to U.S. national security due to their ties to China's military. Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), both serving on the Armed Services Committee, sent a letter dated July 24 to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The lawmakers expressed concern that some Chinese VPN apps are linked to Qihoo 360, a Chinese cybersecurity company that was added to the Commerce Department's economic blacklist for supporting the procurement of items for use by the Chinese military.

China, Nigeria in diplomatic talks over abandoned miners in Chinese-owned mines
China, Nigeria in diplomatic talks over abandoned miners in Chinese-owned mines

Business Insider

time3 days ago

  • Business Insider

China, Nigeria in diplomatic talks over abandoned miners in Chinese-owned mines

The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has responded to growing public concern after a viral video surfaced showing Nigerian miners allegedly trafficked and abandoned by a China-owned mining company in the Central African Republic (CAR). A viral video showcasing the plight of Nigerian miners allegedly trafficked by a Chinese mining company in the Central African Republic has sparked outrage. The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has initiated an investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring lawful business practices overseas. Nigerian government agencies are working to repatriate the affected miners safely through diplomatic channels. The video, which circulated widely online, triggered outrage among Nigerians and prompted swift diplomatic attention from both Abuja and Beijing. The Embassy confirmed via an official statement that it had initiated an immediate investigation into the incident, reaffirming its commitment to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the rights of all citizens involved. The Statement read: " The Chinese government consistently mandates that all Chinese enterprises and citizens operating abroad strictly comply with local laws and regulations, ensuring all business operations fully adhere to local legal frameworks." It added that " The Chinese side will urge the involved companies to address this matter appropriately, maintain close communication with Nigerian authorities throughout the investigation, and work together to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of citizens of both nations." Nigerian government reacts to miners' complaints The Embassy's response came after a disturbing video circulated online, showing distressed Nigerian miners stranded in Bambari, a remote town in the Central African Republic (CAR). In the video, the miners claimed they had been trafficked and abandoned by their employer, Denaco Erado Mining Company, a Chinese mining company. They alleged they had worked for nearly a year without pay, were denied food and shelter, and had their passports confiscated. Reacting to the incident, the Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said: " The attention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has been drawn to the distress call in a viral video where some Nigerians were allegedly maltreated in the Central African Republic (CAR)." He added that " The Nigerians were deceived and abandoned in a foreign land, forced to work for 11 months without pay. Their passports were confiscated, leaving them stranded.' The agency, however, said it was working with the Nigerian Embassy in the CAR to secure the release and safe return of the affected citizens. Subsequently, in a separate statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry expressed deep concern. The statement read: " The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the affected Nigerians have been contacted by the hardworking officials of our Mission in the Central African Republic, and the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangui is actively engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the safety, protection, and swift repatriation of the affected Nigerian nationals." According to the ministry, a military vehicle has been dispatched to evacuate the stranded workers from Bambari to Bangui, with an expected arrival in the capital by Saturday, July 26. This is not the first time Chinese mining operations in Africa have come under scrutiny, with human rights groups repeatedly raising concerns over labour abuses, environmental damage, and lack of oversight in several countries.

US lawmakers raise alarm over data collection by OnePlus without users' permission: Report
US lawmakers raise alarm over data collection by OnePlus without users' permission: Report

Time of India

time01-07-2025

  • Business
  • Time of India

US lawmakers raise alarm over data collection by OnePlus without users' permission: Report

Image for representation purpose Two U.S. lawmakers have asked the US Commerce Department to investigate Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus over alleged security concerns. According to a Reuters report, representatives John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to the department raising concerns that OnePlus devices may be collecting sensitive user data without consent and sending it to China-owned servers. The letter claims that OnePlus smartphones may be gathering personal data, including "transfers of sensitive personal information and screenshots," without users' explicit permission. The lawmakers wrote, 'This investigation would determine the types of information being collected by OnePlus devices.' They cited a commercial analysis that reportedly found the data collection patterns and flagged them as potentially unsafe. The information, according to the lawmakers, 'indicates' that OnePlus may be sending this data to servers owned by entities in China. This isn't the first time the US government has raised red flags over Chinese tech companies. In 2020, Huawei faced federal charges including racketeering and intellectual property theft. The company received temporary relief from U.S. trade bans but continued to face scrutiny under national security laws. The TikTok controversy in 2022 followed a similar path, with officials accusing the app of sharing sensitive user data with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. At the time, U.S. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr stated, 'It harvests swaths of sensitive data that new reports show is being accessed in Beijing.' The call to investigate OnePlus echoes ongoing concerns over how Chinese-owned tech firms handle U.S. consumer data and whether that data could be accessed by foreign governments. Apple iOS 26: Top 5 iOS 26 Features You NEED to See! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

EU ramps up its efforts to stop Chinese online firms selling illegal goods
EU ramps up its efforts to stop Chinese online firms selling illegal goods

Irish Independent

time19-06-2025

  • Business
  • Irish Independent

EU ramps up its efforts to stop Chinese online firms selling illegal goods

The EU's executive arm yesterday unveiled a list of grievances against China-owned AliExpress, which has been under investigation since March 2024 under the Digital Services Act – the EU's content moderation rulebook. In a statement, the European Commission said that AliExpress doesn't adequately moderate the goods sold on its website and fails to 'appropriately enforce' its penalty policy against sellers who repeatedly post illegal content. Platforms with more than 45 million EU users can face fines of 6pc of global yearly sales The commission's preliminary findings now put the platform at risk of a fine. An AliExpress spokesperson said the company is continuing to work closely with the commission and is committed to respecting EU rules. They said they were 'confident that a positive and compliant result will be achieved'. The commission also said AliExpress has committed to changes to systems for detecting and flagging illegal products – such as medicines and food supplements – tracing sellers and making its data more transparent. Alibaba is looking for new areas for growth after its core businesses has fallen victim to ongoing US-China tensions. Company chair Joe Tsai said last month that Asian companies can look for opportunities in Asia or Europe for expansion. Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms with more than 45 million EU users can face fines of 6pc of their global yearly sales for failing to stamp out illicit products or harmful content. Besides AliExpress, other major online platforms – including X, Meta, Temu, TikTok and several pornography platforms – are currently being investigated under the sweeping regulation.

EU says AliExpress failed to stop illegal sales in digital probe
EU says AliExpress failed to stop illegal sales in digital probe

The Star

time18-06-2025

  • Business
  • The Star

EU says AliExpress failed to stop illegal sales in digital probe

The EU's executive arm on June 18 unveiled a detailed list of grievances against China-owned AliExpress, which had been under investigation since March 2024 under the bloc's content moderation rulebook the Digital Services Act. — Photo by on Unsplash The European Union escalated a probe against Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's e-commerce service AliExpress, accusing it of failing to tackle the spread of illegal products on its platform. The EU's executive arm on June 18 unveiled a detailed list of grievances against China-owned AliExpress, which had been under investigation since March 2024 under the bloc's content moderation rulebook the Digital Services Act. AliExpress doesn't adequately moderate the goods sold on its website and fails to "appropriately enforce' its penalty policy against sellers who repeatedly post illegal content, the European Commission said in a statement. The commission's preliminary findings put the platform at risk of a fine. The commission also said AliExpress has committed to changes to systems for detecting and flagging illegal products – such as medicines and food supplements – tracing sellers and making its data more transparent. Alibaba is looking for new areas for growth after its core businesses fell victim to prolonged US-China tensions. Chairman Joe Tsai said last month that Asian companies can look for opportunities in Asia or Europe for expansion. Under the DSA, online platforms with more than 45 million users in the EU can face fines of as much as 6% of their global yearly sales for failing to stamp out illicit products or harmful content. Besides AliExpress, other major platforms including Elon Musk's X, Meta Platforms, e-commerce website Temu, social network TikTok and several pornography platforms are currently being investigated under the sweeping regulation. – Bloomberg

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