WeChat

A government inquiry into foreign interference has found social media platforms were being used to watch and gather information on people, repress and threaten diaspora communities and interfere with elections.

ASD says TikTok’s ability to gather large amounts of user information was one reason the app was banned from government devices.

New analysis finds the WeChat app bridges gaps in the provision of public services and information to migrant communities.

China’s star has been steadily rising for decades. Besides slashing extreme poverty rates from 88% to under 2% in just 30 years, the country has become a global powerhouse in manufacturing and technology.

The federal government is clearly sold on big data and is combining massive stores of sensitive public information. It needs to bring the public along but while privacy concerns abound, there’s little sign that many Australians share the enthusiasm.