WECHAT

Facebook departed China because they did not want the Chinese government to have excess to their user accounts. Below is a list of items the Chinese government has excess to in all WECHAT user accounts: Identity: WeChat can find accounts on the device, add or remove accounts; and read the device's contact card, profile data, associated e-mail address, and telephone number; Location: WeChat can determine an individual's approximate location (network- and Wi-Fi-based) and an individual's precise location (GPS-based); Internet log data: WeChat can access the device's mobile carrier, IP address, device version and ID number; search history, cookies, log files, and web beacons on the mobile device; Device call information: WeChat can read the device's status and identity, as well as the phone numbers connected by a call; Wi-Fi connection: WeChat can view Wi-Fi connections and the names of connected Wi-Fi devices; Bluetooth connection: WeChat can view Bluetooth connections and get names and information of connected Bluetooth devices; Device and app history: WeChat can retrieve running apps, and can access Internet browsing history and bookmarks; Short Message Service (SMS): WeChat can read an individual's text messages, in both SMS or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) format; Photographs/Media/Files: WeChat can modify or delete the contents of Universal Serial Bus (USB) storage, and can test access to protected or encrypted storage; Contacts: WeChat can read or modify an individual's contacts on the device; Other: WeChat can make in-app purchases and can read "home" settings on the device.