WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#1

Post by ForHackernews » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:02 AM UTC

WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me
nautil.us

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#2

Post by _sveq » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:39 AM UTC

I go to China often but it's been two years now. I don't look forward to the next visit for this very reason—I'll need this to pay for any and everything. I'm not going back.

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#3

Post by qrbLPHiKpiux » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:41 AM UTC

What an unintended consequence. Was there any way to have seen it?

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#4

Post by catherd » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:54 AM UTC

_sveq wrote: post #2

I go to China often but it's been two years now. I don't look forward to the next visit for this very reason—I'll need this to pay for any and everything. I'm not going back.

Cash still works exactly the way it always has, (almost) nobody is going to turn down your business because you don't pay by an app.

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#5

Post by ajxs » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:56 AM UTC

qrbLPHiKpiux wrote: post #3

What an unintended consequence. Was there any way to have seen it?

Is this comment a joke?

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#6

Post by floor_ » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:57 AM UTC

Not to be confused with WeeChat. The curses terminal irc client.

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#7

Post by spectramax » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 12:04 PM UTC

catherd wrote: post #4

_sveq wrote: post #2

I go to China often but it's been two years now. I don't look forward to the next visit for this very reason—I'll need this to pay for any and everything. I'm not going back.

Cash still works exactly the way it always has, (almost) nobody is going to turn down your business because you don't pay by an app.

Besides payments, WeChat is inextricably tied to everything you do in China from chatting with your friends to buying a movie ticket to visa renewals. I've spent over 400 nights in Chinese cities and I depend on WeChat like I depend on water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WeChat#Features

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#8

Post by loyukfai » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 12:06 PM UTC

catherd wrote: post #4

_sveq wrote: post #2

I go to China often but it's been two years now. I don't look forward to the next visit for this very reason—I'll need this to pay for any and everything. I'm not going back.

Cash still works exactly the way it always has, (almost) nobody is going to turn down your business because you don't pay by an app.

Naturally, going onwards, places and things that one cannot buy and/or go without an e-wallet will gradually increase, right?

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#9

Post by 292355744930110 » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 12:06 PM UTC

ajxs wrote: post #5

qrbLPHiKpiux wrote: post #3

What an unintended consequence. Was there any way to have seen it?

Is this comment a joke?

They are more like intended consequences.

Re: WeChat is Watching: Living in China with the app that knows everything about me

#10

Post by hn23 » Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 12:07 PM UTC

So compared to this Google looks like a mom and pop shop when it comes to data collection..but now think about the frame here. It is done in China not in the /free/ world..