New Chinese rules say Apple's App Store must track identities of users, developers
Under new Chinese regulations, Apple will have to track the identities of App Store users while flagging anything that might violate the country's censorship laws, according to a Tuesday report.
App stores and providers must now maintain a record of user activity for 60 days, Bloomberg noted. Developers must meanwhile be verified, and starting July 1 their apps will have to be screened by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.
Although the laws are largely meant to silence political dissent and any potentially offensive content, they also include some new privacy protections for end users. App stores and providers will have to obtain consent for any personal information collection, including contacts and location data.
Tougher regulations have been anticipated for some time -- nevertheless, they impose a greater burden not just on companies like Apple, but on developers and others.
The app screening rules in particular could cause delays at the App Store, since even a simplified process for local developers requires submission 20 days ahead of launch. Foreign companies -- and those that don't qualify for the simplified process -- may have to wait even longer for an app to go live. Outfits that want help with the approval process may end up spending thousands of dollars on third-party assistance.
App stores and providers must now maintain a record of user activity for 60 days, Bloomberg noted. Developers must meanwhile be verified, and starting July 1 their apps will have to be screened by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.
Although the laws are largely meant to silence political dissent and any potentially offensive content, they also include some new privacy protections for end users. App stores and providers will have to obtain consent for any personal information collection, including contacts and location data.
Tougher regulations have been anticipated for some time -- nevertheless, they impose a greater burden not just on companies like Apple, but on developers and others.
The app screening rules in particular could cause delays at the App Store, since even a simplified process for local developers requires submission 20 days ahead of launch. Foreign companies -- and those that don't qualify for the simplified process -- may have to wait even longer for an app to go live. Outfits that want help with the approval process may end up spending thousands of dollars on third-party assistance.
Comments
... I kid, I kid!
Oh wait, no not really.
But is it worth it in the end.....China seems to make it very hard for others to complete in their space. Yes, its a big market, but as soon as it drops off, I'd be looking to pulling out.
And to be totally fair, the Chinese do have much thicker skins regarding jabs. Probably not surprising since the French's national pride is 'wine'.
Apple already know the identity of every person who gets apps from the app story, you have to put all your credential in to sign up. Also how else does Apple know to tell you the apps you down loaded need to be updated. I know Apple knows about every app I downloaded, I can get a summary of my activities. Therefore I am not sure this is a big deal.
On the censorship thing, no different in the US, Apple censors apps which do not apply with US laws and Apples own decency policies. The problem is china, Apple will most likely have to hire China party members to review content to make sure it does not violate Chinese rules, this way if something missed Apple can blame the party members and their heads will be cut off.
With Trump wanting to control who USA citizens can associate with, the USA is going to the personal freedom dump.
Much more than the China individual $50k yearly limit of money has been leaving China to buy real estate.
Now China admits that their people are borrowing big money then leaving China.
Recently a China bank has come to Canada to locate $10m which was loaned in China, then brought here.
It was located and much had been used to purchase 10 houses in Canada.
Legal charges in Canada by that China bank are coming.
There's a revolution coming, but not for the 31 flavors of Socialism or Conservatism, these are just failed, dishonest philosophies of the past.
A revolt in China will free the people from a selfish dictatorship and should reduce the numbers of people who want to leave China.
That may drop housing prices in many world cities, as the empty China people owned houses "just in case they are needed" are sold off.
Lots of cosmopolitan elitist tears over this, not sure anybody beyond that cares. It's a shock to the progressive cause because the Star Trek TNG fantasy version of the EU was their promised paradise of 70 virgins.
But then we are ALL hypocrites in one way or another are we not?