SHOCKING! Google BANS these Chinese apps designed to spy on users; says delete now

In a shock move, Google banned several apps developed by the Chinese ecommerce platform Pinduoduo on Tuesday, March 21. Google said that the ban was handed down after malicious behavior was detected. Later, these Chinese apps were flagged as malware and it was reported that they were tracking users who had installed them on their gadgets. Google also sent out a notification to all the users who had installed these apps asking them to delete them immediately. This comes after multiple Chinese security researchers have claimed that Pinduoduo is making Android apps which can monitor users.

Ed Fernandez, a Google spokesperson, revealed, “Off-Play versions of this app that have been found to contain malware have been enforced on via Google Play Protect”. For the unaware, Off-Play apps refer to Android apps which are not present on the Play Store but can still be downloaded by users through APKs.

Additionally, the spokesperson also stated that the official app of Pinduoduo was suspended “for security concerns while we continue our investigation”.

Google bans Chinese apps

Pinduoduo is a major ecommerce company in China which has 800 million active users across its various apps. The company has often been credited with popularizing the social commerce model, where users buy products while using a social media platform without ever having to leave the app. Apps such as these need to heavily customize the app experience to maximize user spending their time and to increase their chances of buying something.

Accusations around Pinduoduo were raised a couple of weeks ago when some cybersecurity researchers revealed the presence of a back-door which allowed the apps to track and monitor the user and their behavior even outside the app usage.

“Google Play has informed us this morning that the Pinduoduo App has been temporarily suspended as the current version is not compliant with Google's Policy, but has not shared more details,” a Pinduoduo spokesperson said, confirming the reports of bans.

In a separate statement given to TechCrunch, another spokesperson said, “we strongly reject the speculation and accusation by some anonymous researcher and non conclusive response from Google that Pinduoduo app is malicious. There are several apps that have been suspended from Google Play at the same time and we find it peculiar that TechCrunch chose to single out Pinduoduo”.