The article discusses the discovery of malware in the Pinduoduo app, a popular Chinese e-commerce platform. The malware was found to have been used by a team of engineers and product managers who were responsible for developing exploits, but they were later disbanded after their activities became suspicious.
The article notes that Pinduoduo has been able to grow its user base despite China's regulatory clampdown on Big Tech, which began in late 2020. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology regularly publishes lists of apps found to have undermined user privacy or other rights, but Pinduoduo did not appear on any of these lists.
Tech policy experts say that the failure of regulators to detect the malware is embarrassing for them, as it would be a violation of China's data protection laws. The article quotes Kendra Schaefer, a tech policy expert at Trivium China, who says that "they're supposed to check Pinduoduo, and the fact that they didn't find (anything) is embarrassing for the regulator."
The article also notes that Chinese social media has seen some cybersecurity experts questioning why regulators haven't taken action against Pinduoduo. Some have called for greater transparency and accountability from regulators, while others have expressed concern about the lack of understanding among regulators regarding technology.
Overall, the article highlights the need for greater oversight and regulation in China's tech industry, particularly when it comes to data protection and cybersecurity.
Key points:
* A team of engineers and product managers at Pinduoduo developed malware to exploit vulnerabilities in the app.
* The malware was found by a Chinese cybersecurity firm called Dark Navy and later confirmed by other researchers.
* Pinduoduo disbanded the team responsible for developing the malware after their activities became suspicious.
* China's regulatory clampdown on Big Tech began in late 2020, but regulators failed to detect the malware.
* The failure of regulators to detect the malware is embarrassing for them, as it would be a violation of China's data protection laws.
Relevant experts and quotes:
* Kendra Schaefer, tech policy expert at Trivium China
* "They're supposed to check Pinduoduo, and the fact that they didn't find (anything) is embarrassing for the regulator."
* Cybersecurity expert with 1.8 million followers on Weibo
* "Probably none of our regulators can understand coding and programming, nor do they understand technology."
Relevant regulations and laws:
* China's Personal Information Protection Law
* China's data protection laws
Relevant lists and publications:
* Lists of apps found to have undermined user privacy or other rights published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
* Lists of apps removed from app stores for failing to comply with regulations published by the Cyberspace Administration of China
The article notes that Pinduoduo has been able to grow its user base despite China's regulatory clampdown on Big Tech, which began in late 2020. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology regularly publishes lists of apps found to have undermined user privacy or other rights, but Pinduoduo did not appear on any of these lists.
Tech policy experts say that the failure of regulators to detect the malware is embarrassing for them, as it would be a violation of China's data protection laws. The article quotes Kendra Schaefer, a tech policy expert at Trivium China, who says that "they're supposed to check Pinduoduo, and the fact that they didn't find (anything) is embarrassing for the regulator."
The article also notes that Chinese social media has seen some cybersecurity experts questioning why regulators haven't taken action against Pinduoduo. Some have called for greater transparency and accountability from regulators, while others have expressed concern about the lack of understanding among regulators regarding technology.
Overall, the article highlights the need for greater oversight and regulation in China's tech industry, particularly when it comes to data protection and cybersecurity.
Key points:
* A team of engineers and product managers at Pinduoduo developed malware to exploit vulnerabilities in the app.
* The malware was found by a Chinese cybersecurity firm called Dark Navy and later confirmed by other researchers.
* Pinduoduo disbanded the team responsible for developing the malware after their activities became suspicious.
* China's regulatory clampdown on Big Tech began in late 2020, but regulators failed to detect the malware.
* The failure of regulators to detect the malware is embarrassing for them, as it would be a violation of China's data protection laws.
Relevant experts and quotes:
* Kendra Schaefer, tech policy expert at Trivium China
* "They're supposed to check Pinduoduo, and the fact that they didn't find (anything) is embarrassing for the regulator."
* Cybersecurity expert with 1.8 million followers on Weibo
* "Probably none of our regulators can understand coding and programming, nor do they understand technology."
Relevant regulations and laws:
* China's Personal Information Protection Law
* China's data protection laws
Relevant lists and publications:
* Lists of apps found to have undermined user privacy or other rights published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
* Lists of apps removed from app stores for failing to comply with regulations published by the Cyberspace Administration of China
It's crazy to think about how they must have been able to hide it from regulators. But what's even crazier is how regulators failed to detect it until now. 
I mean, Kendra Schaefer saying that this is embarrassing for them because of China's data protection laws just makes sense. It highlights how important it is for regulators to stay on top of things and keep up with the latest tech trends.
We should be applauding the cybersecurity firm Dark Navy for blowing the whistle on this and getting the truth out there.
. i mean, tech policy experts are saying the same thing - they're basically checking boxes without actually understanding what they're doing 
. and it's not like pinduoduo is some random app, they're a huge e-commerce platform in china! this just highlights how important it is for us to have stricter regulations on our tech companies 
they need to step up their game ASAP, it's embarrassing that a Chinese cybersecurity firm was able to find this stuff and they didn't even bother to investigate further. I mean, we all know about the regulatory clampdown on Big Tech in China, but what's really going on behind the scenes? Are our regulators just not doing their job or are there other factors at play? 
Like, how can you regulate something without even understanding it?
. what's even more worrying is that this happened despite China's regulatory clampdown on Big Tech... does that mean the regulators are just not doing their job or are they just not aware of the latest tech threats? anyway, it's clear that we need stronger oversight and regulation in China's tech industry - it's time to step up the game 
.