The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) in Taiwan has expressed significant concerns regarding cybersecurity risks presented by various Chinese-developed mobile applications. During a press briefing in Taipei on May 28, the ministry highlighted four specific applications: navigation service Amap, video streaming platforms bilibili and iQIYI, and the messaging application BIMOBIMO. The concerns are centered around the potential exposure of personal data belonging to Taiwanese users to Chinese authorities.

This warning coincides with a growing popularity of Amap, which has reportedly become one of the most frequently downloaded navigation applications available on both the Android and iOS platforms in Taiwan. Officials are increasingly worried about the scale of data that could be collected through such widely-used applications.

Analysis of Security Risks

Amap emerged as the application exhibiting the most concerning behaviour, with the ACS identifying 11 security issues on Android devices and eight on iOS. Tsai Fu-Longe, the Director-General of ACS, articulated primary concerns regarding the possibility that user information from these applications could be transmitted to Chinese authorities, posing potential risks to national security. Alarmingly, it was discovered that Amap continued to transmit data even when not actively in use.

Further insights came from senior ACS official Lee Yu-wei, who drew attention to China’s Cybersecurity Law and National Intelligence Law. Under these regulations, companies operating within China may face legal obligations to surrender user data to Chinese authorities upon request. This represents a notable risk for Taiwanese users, as the apps reportedly possess the capability to track user locations continuously and access sensitive information such as contacts and audio-visual files.

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