Millions of Americans are inadvertently sending their internet traffic to Chinese companies—including several tied to the People’s Liberation Army.

Millions of Americans have downloaded apps that secretly route their internet traffic through Chinese companies, according to an investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), including several that were recently owned by a sanctioned firm with links to China’s military.

  • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
    192·
    4 days ago

    Pretty flimsy argument that they’re “linked” to Chinese military for having to comply with local data regulations. By the same argument, every EU, US, and Israeli vpn is as guilty.

    • FauxLiving@lemmy.world
      26·
      3 days ago

      From the article:

      Several of the apps traced back to Qihoo 360, a firm declared by the Defense Department to be a “Chinese Military Company."

      • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
        7·
        3 days ago

        The department of defense designates every rival as a terrorist or military organization. It’s not really an accusation that holds water at this point.

        • FauxLiving@lemmy.world
          14·
          3 days ago

          Are iOS app developers usually considered rivals of the Department of Defense?

          Or is it only the ones that work for the PLA?

          They didn’t designate all Chinese iOS developers, they singled a few out. Unless you think the DoD is trolling, they must have a reason for accusing this specific app developer.

          • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
            3·
            2 days ago

            The DoD is regularly trolling, and designating rival political ideologues as terrorists to justify unwarranted legal maneuvers.

            • FauxLiving@lemmy.world
              12·
              2 days ago

              None of that addresses the company at issue.

              There are several Chinese developers involved in this investigation.

              If the DoD was “designating every rival as a military organization” then why are they singling out specific Chinese developers instead of designating them all as a “Chinese Military Company”? It isn’t because they “have to comply with local data regulations”, all companies have to do that. All Chinese companies have to do that and not all Chinese companies are designated by the DoD as a Military Company.

              So, why is this one specific company singled out? Probably because it works for the PLA, as the DoD says.

              Your argument is basically “The DoD is lying” which isn’t supported by any evidence in this case. “Trust me bro” from a random social media user isn’t exactly a credible source.

              • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
                2·
                2 days ago

                Probably because these companies have some US competitors that want to see them taken out. This is a common tactic.

                The DoD is always lying. If you still believe them at this point, you just want to be fooled. Probably appeals to your Sinophobia in this instance.