Jingwang Weishi

JingWang Weishi (Chinese: 净网卫士) is a mobile phone application used for surveillance of residents in Xinjiang, China.[1][2]

Function

The application records information about the device it is installed on, including its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, the phone's model and manufacturer, and the phone number.[2] It searches the phone for images, videos, audio recordings, and files, and instructs users to delete any content it flags as "dangerous".[2][3] Data is transferred in plaintext and without encryption.[1] The application also monitors WeChat and Weibo activity.[4]

Mandatory use

Police in China have reportedly forced Uyghurs in Xinjiang to download the application as part of a mass surveillance campaign.[2] They check to ensure that individuals have it installed on their phones, and have arrested individuals who refuse to do so.[4][2]

References

  1. 1 2 Cox, Joseph (April 9, 2018). "Chinese Government Forces Residents To Install Surveillance App With Awful Security". Vice Media.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Rajagopalan, Megha; Yang, William (April 9, 2018). "China Is Forcing People To Download An App That Tells Them To Delete "Dangerous" Photos". BuzzFeed News.
  3. ↑ "An internment camp for 10 million Uyghurs, Meduza visits China's dystopian police state". Medusa Project. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 Ashok, India (July 25, 2017). "What is Jingwang? China's Muslim minority forced to install spyware on their phones". International Business Times.
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