There are an estimated 601.8 million smartphone users in China, with almost three-quarters using the Android operating system over iOS. Strictly speaking, however, none of them have access to Google’s Play store. It has been blocked on and off for years, along with the rest of Google’s services. Now, China is forcing the multiple unregulated app stores that popped up in its stead to register with the government from today, January 16.
In a statement released on China Network, the move was described by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) as being designed to “further promote the healthy and orderly development of the Internet application store industry”. It argued that the “basic norms” of the app stores are not up to scratch, and that poor management has allowed “illegal information” to be disseminated.
The most popular app stores in China are owned by some of its biggest internet companies, including Tencent, Baidu and Alibaba. But there are many more independent ones, making it hard to track apps and their content. The Chinese government wants to put an end to this, and the existence of anonymous app store operators.
Even Google Play has been criticised in the past for allowing insecure apps to proliferate on its store – a result of the vast quantity that are uploaded every year. It’s likely the Chinese government’s motivation for the changes is somewhat different, though. Although the change will no doubt mean stricter security guidelines, it will also make apps far easier to censor and control. Last year the CAC launched new laws for search engines and mobile apps, which put the onus for said illegal content on third-parties. It stipulates that operators have a duty to report banned content to the authorities. By forcing app stores to register, the CAC is closing the loop on censoring any and all information shared online.
On the one hand, the move is bad news for any citizen hoping to circumvent censorship laws and gain access to information outside of China legitimately. However, it will also put an end to the influx of fraudulent apps carrying malware, that currently go undetected.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
