BEIJING, May 14 — To enter many offices, restaurants, parks or malls in China nowadays, people must show their status on an app that determines whether they are a coronavirus threat. There is often a moment of tension before opening the app on arriving at a location. A green light lets you in...
To enter many offices, restaurants, parks or malls in China nowadays, people must show their status on an app that determines whether they are a coronavirus threat. — AFP pic
But use has mushroomed across China, where the government keeps a close eye on the population and collects troves of personal data. Many Chinese people say they are happy to cooperate for the greater good. The app appears to have had some glitches. The health code of many foreigners in China inexplicably turned yellow one day in April. When an AFP reporter encountered a similar issue more recently, the app turned green again after he turned it off and on several times.The capital Beijing has a “Health Kit” programme that displays whether people have taken a train or plane, passed a road checkpoint into the city or have been tested for the virus.
“There is a difference between Chinese and Western culture,” said Cui Xiaohui, a professor at the big data analysis and AI research centre at the University of Wuhan — the city where the virus first emerged late last year. In France, the StopCovid app being developed would allow users who become sick to anonymously alert people they may have come across. It would not use GPS location technology.“China doesn't have specific laws or regulations yet on the protection of personal data,” said Zhou Lina, a professor specialising in data protection at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
English Premier League gets green light for June re-start | Malay MailLONDON, May 12 — Premier League clubs received a boost to their hopes of completing the season yesterday as the government published a “roadmap” that could see the return of elite sport in England from June 1. As the 20 English top-flight clubs met for further talks on “Project Restart”,...
Read more »
China car sales begin recovery after virus plunge | Malay MailBEIJING, May 13 ― The lifting of coronavirus lockdowns in China has given the stuttering auto industry a jumpstart, with sales rising for the first time in two years as buyers return as the health crisis eases. Sales in the world's biggest car market began to slide in 2018 and plunged further...
Read more »
Seven new virus cases in mainland China, up from one a day earlier | Malay MailSHANGHAI, May 13 — China reported seven new coronavirus infections on the mainland yesterday, versus one a day earlier, the national health authority said today, with six local cases in northeastern Jilin province and one imported case in Shanghai. Jilin has emerged as the source of a potential...
Read more »
China factory prices plunge as virus hammers demand | Malay MailBEIJING, May 12 — China's factory-gate prices fell to a four-year low, official data showed today, with firms suffering from the economic devastation unleashed by the coronavirus on the global economy. The producer price index (PPI) — which reflects what factories charge wholesalers — dropped...
Read more »
Trump Senate ally seeks China sanctions over Covid-19 probe | Malay MailWASHINGTON, May 13 — A leading US Republican senator proposed legislation yesterday that would authorise the US president to impose far-reaching sanctions on China if it fails to give a full account of events leading to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally...
Read more »
Malaysian oil exploration vessel leaves South China Sea waters after standoff | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — An oil exploration vessel contracted by Malaysian state energy company Petronas that was involved in a standoff with a Chinese survey vessel in the South China Sea left the disputed waters today, three security sources and the vessel operator said. Petronas has been...
Read more »