University of California Tells Students Not To Use WeChat, WhatsApp In China (cnn.com) 69
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."
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."
Re: How's life in your ivory tower? (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.
Re: (Score:2)
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 st
Re: (Score:2)
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 reaso
Re: (Score:1)
Does that make them Republican?
Re:Socialist School... (Score:5, Funny)
North Korea calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Does that make them Democrat?
Re: (Score:2)
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)
China is a criminal cabal, not a country. (Score:3, Funny)
Get used to it.
Learn to be careful (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.
Re:Learn to be careful (Score:4, 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.
Re: (Score:2)
PS One thing I didn't get in China was spam.
Re: (Score:2)
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.
True Everywhere? (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
Citations you ask? (Score:2)
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".
Re:True Everywhere? (Score:4, 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.
In other news, Mexico warns about FlexiSpy (Score:2)
Hacked (Score:2, 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.
WhatsApp end-to-end encryption? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
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.
No China for me (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
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.
Re: (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.
Re: (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.
Re: (Score:2)
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.
So much paranoia... (Score:2)
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 ahe