05-25-2021 , 06:49 AM
https://news.softpedia.com/news/china-ac...2995.shtml
China Accuses Microsoft of Collecting Too Much User Data with Its Apps
Watchdog flags 105 apps for excessive data collection
May 24, 2021 14:03 GMT · By Bogdan Popa User data collection has remained a major concern for both users themselves and privacy advocates across the world, and watchdogs are regularly prompted to conduct investigations that should help prevent certain services or apps from accessing excessive data. The Cyberspace Administration of China recently looked into how some of the apps available in the country are handling user data, and the results aren’t at all satisfactory.
And it’s all because a total of 105 apps available for Chinese users are actually accessing excessive user data even though they don’t necessarily need it.
Among them, there are two separate Microsoft apps that have caught the attention of investigators for the way they collect user information. They are Microsoft’s Bing and LinkedIn, according to a report from Reuters, though as I said, the Chinese regulator has discovered more than 100 apps playing dirty without telling users.
Companies given two weeks to update their apps or else
The Cyberspace Administration of China isn’t in a rush to fine the developers of these apps, as the regulator says each company, including the ones offering apps like TikTok and Kugou, will be given 15 days to release updates that would resolve the wrongdoings.
In other words, the software developers have some two weeks to release updates that would address the excessive data collection, essentially making their apps collect only the information they need to work properly.
Microsoft has remained tight-lipped on the whole thing, but I expect the company to comply with the requirements and release software updates in the next two weeks to align with the demands of the privacy watchdog.
We have reached out to Microsoft for some official comments on the Chinese investigation and will post an update if and when we hear back from the company.
China Accuses Microsoft of Collecting Too Much User Data with Its Apps
Watchdog flags 105 apps for excessive data collection
May 24, 2021 14:03 GMT · By Bogdan Popa User data collection has remained a major concern for both users themselves and privacy advocates across the world, and watchdogs are regularly prompted to conduct investigations that should help prevent certain services or apps from accessing excessive data. The Cyberspace Administration of China recently looked into how some of the apps available in the country are handling user data, and the results aren’t at all satisfactory.
And it’s all because a total of 105 apps available for Chinese users are actually accessing excessive user data even though they don’t necessarily need it.
Among them, there are two separate Microsoft apps that have caught the attention of investigators for the way they collect user information. They are Microsoft’s Bing and LinkedIn, according to a report from Reuters, though as I said, the Chinese regulator has discovered more than 100 apps playing dirty without telling users.
Companies given two weeks to update their apps or else
The Cyberspace Administration of China isn’t in a rush to fine the developers of these apps, as the regulator says each company, including the ones offering apps like TikTok and Kugou, will be given 15 days to release updates that would resolve the wrongdoings.
In other words, the software developers have some two weeks to release updates that would address the excessive data collection, essentially making their apps collect only the information they need to work properly.
Microsoft has remained tight-lipped on the whole thing, but I expect the company to comply with the requirements and release software updates in the next two weeks to align with the demands of the privacy watchdog.
We have reached out to Microsoft for some official comments on the Chinese investigation and will post an update if and when we hear back from the company.