China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently ordered technology giant Tencent to suspend the launch of new apps and a temporary suspension of product updates.
The move is part of the new Information Protection Law that ensures that proper reviews of data protection laws are carried out. As part of the review of the new directive, state broadcaster CCTV announced that the agency stated that all new app rollouts and updates from 24 November to the end of 2021 will be adequately reviewed before they are made available to the public.
Currently, the latest versions of the apps are still available for download and use. Tencent responded to the new policy with an official statement: “We are continuously working to enhance user protection features within our apps, and also have regular cooperation with relevant government agencies to ensure regulatory compliance. Our apps remain functional and available for download.”