China is installing surveillance apps on visitors’ phone according to report

Now, a new report reveals that Chinese authorities are even installing surveillance apps on visitor smartphones. These apps are installed on smartphones of visitors while screening them. These apps are used to extract email address, text messages, contact information and other personal data from users’ phones. Now, this report says that this occurs on one of the many crossing stages to enter China from its border.

In particular, the surveillance apps were found on the visitors’ smartphones coming to China from Kyrgyzstan border. Also, people entering China from the Irkeshtam border have also had their phones screened several times. Once the guards take away smartphones, they return it “after some time” while taking them to a separate room. Also, Visitors are told to unlock their smartphones and cameras too.

The report also says that these apps are generally uninstalled before handing the phones over but they are sometimes left out. As for the iPhone, the device is connected to a reader and all the data is extracted while an app is installed for Android users.

Although this could be for security purposes, China should come out and tell people about it. We are also not sure if the data is stored after the screening process and for how long is that data available. A report says that the Chinese government is also forcing Muslims in the country to install an app called Jingwang. This app reportedly scans the device for “terrorist propaganda”