“Apple’s profits in China are huge, accounting for one-fifth of its total revenue.
The New York Times reported on Monday that Apple had handed over the data of local users to a Chinese state-run company for storage in China. The report also said that the encryption method used by Apple in China is different from that used in foreign countries, and that the Chinese government can indirectly obtain customer information from Apple. In addition, Apple’s Chinese App Store does not display sensitive Chinese words such as “Tibetan independence” and “Taiwan independence”, as required by China. As for the information of Hong Kong users, experts believe that the Chinese government may not be able to access the information of Hong Kong users at present, but believe that it is not surprising if the information of Hong Kong users is connected to the data storage center in China in the future. The police responded that they would request relevant information as needed. (By Junhao Chen)
The New York Times reports that Apple has agreed to set up data storage centers in Guiyang City, Guizhou Province and Inner Mongolia, China, in line with China’s 2017 implementation of the Cybersecurity Law. The Cybersecurity Law specifies that Chinese user data will be collected by the Chinese government and stored in China. The Chinese state-owned company “Cloud on Guizhou”, which operates the iCloud service in China, is responsible for handling the personal data of Chinese “Apple” users, including emails, photos, contacts, etc.
China’s state-owned company gets “Apple” users’ data
The New York Times revealed that the encryption key used by Apple in China is different from that of other countries. The electronic key used to decrypt iCloud data is stored in a system made by the French Thales Group, which is banned in China. “Apple then stored the user data in Guizhou on the Cloud, which is owned by the Chinese government, giving the Chinese Communist Party access to customer data in disguise.
The report cites current and former Apple employees as saying that the company gave in to the Chinese Communist Party for the sake of China’s huge business market. “Apple’s profits in China account for one-fifth of its total revenue, or about $55 billion, and almost all Apple products are assembled in China. To cater to the Chinese market, Apple has even removed the words “designed by Apple in California”. Nicholas Bequelin, director of Amnesty International’s East Asia division, told the New York Times that “the Chinese government controls the Internet, and ‘Apple’ is an important part of the whole censorship machine.
In addition, Apple has a “blacklist” of apps in China, according to Phillip Shoemaker, who ran Apple’s App Store from 2009 to 2016. The company’s lawyers in China once made a list of sensitive issues, including Tiananmen Square, the Dalai Lama, Taiwan independence, Tibetan independence, etc., which could not appear in the store.
Apple’s data has not reached China
“Apple has given in to the Chinese Communist Party for the Chinese market, allowing the authorities to access user information. The information of Hong Kong “Apple” users has been connected to China, which is of great concern. The chairman of the Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA), Mr. Yeh Xu Hui, estimated in an interview with the station that the information of Hong Kong users has not been stored in China for the time being. According to Yip, Apple should not be connected to the Hong Kong International Internet Exchange (HKIX), because iCloud is available worldwide and has the opportunity to move at any time.
Ye Xuhui said, “Apple” and Hong Kong users on the agreement, did not write the user data stored in the “cloud on Guizhou”, theoretically Hong Kong user data is not in China, but if later “Apple “However, if the information is connected and stored in China, the practice is not surprising, and the agreement between Apple and the user should be clearly stated by then. He believes that if “Apple” has relevant changes, to notify the public, to avoid “black box operation”.
Yeh Xuhui said: To my understanding, I checked six months ago, Hong Kong “Apple” user data stored in iCloud is not connected to mainland China, this is one; second, I think “Apple” wants to do business according to the laws of each country, if they really want to connect the Hong Kong user’s But I expect that if Apple really does this, it will need to revise its agreement with users. The iCloud agreement does not seem to indicate that the Chinese government owns “Guizhou on the Cloud” or that a third party handles the data of Hong Kong users. As I understand it, the data of Hong Kong users is not currently located in mainland China. If in the future in mainland China, I believe “Apple” will modify the agreement.
The Hong Kong Police Force said “to request information as needed”
As to whether the Hong Kong police can declassify user information because of the case, or on the grounds that it involves a violation of the “Hong Kong National Security Law”? The Hong Kong Police Force Public Relations Division replied to the station, “the police will investigate the case as necessary to obtain information from relevant persons or institutions related to the investigation of crime.”
If the Hong Kong law states that “Apple” cannot refuse the police request, the company has to comply.
Ye Xuhui said: in principle, if the police request such information, similar to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) request for information, “Apple” will only say whether the law is feasible? “Apple” once said in a high profile to refuse the FBI request, according to the U.S. law “Apple” can do so, but in Hong Kong, if the law specifies that you can not refuse the police request, then “Apple “will have to assist the police.
However, Yeh added that some “Apple” products have a unique “personalized” settings, then “Apple” may not be able to decrypt. He believes that the protection of personal data security is more important than assisting police enforcement and third-party service providers, and is the mainstream voice.
“Apple has issued a statement saying that it has “never compromised on personal data security in China”. “Apple CEO Tim Cook has also said that he would ensure the “security” of user data.
Our reporter contacted “Apple” to inquire whether the Chinese and Hong Kong governments could access users’ personal information, but did not receive a reply by press time.
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