Google suspends Chinese shopping app amid security concerns

❰
<p>A woman walks past the reception desk at the headquarters of Pinduoduo with the logo displayed in the background in Shanghai, on July 25, 2018. Google on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 has suspended the Chinese shopping app Pinduoduo on its app store after malware was discovered in versions of the app from other sources. (Chinatopix via AP)</p> PHOTO CREDIT: CHINATOPIX

A woman walks past the reception desk at the headquarters of Pinduoduo with the logo displayed in the background in Shanghai, on July 25, 2018. Google on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 has suspended the Chinese shopping app Pinduoduo on its app store after malware was discovered in versions of the app from other sources. (Chinatopix via AP)

PHOTO CREDIT: CHINATOPIX
❱

Posted By: The Associated Press March 21, 2023

HONG KONG — Google has suspended the Chinese shopping app Pinduoduo on its app store after malware was discovered in versions of the app from other sources.

Google said in a statement today that it suspended the Pinduoduo app on the Google Play app store out of “security concerns” and that it was investigating the matter.

The suspension of the Pinduoduo app –- mainly used in China –- comes amid heightened U.S.-China tensions over Chinese-owned apps such as TikTok, which some U.S. lawmakers say could be a national security threat. They allege that such apps could be used to spy on American users.

Pinduoduo is a popular e-commerce app in China which often offers discounts if users team up to buy multiples of an item. Many Chinese online shopping platforms offer downloads of the app. Google warned users today to uninstall any Pinduoduo app not downloaded from its own Play store.

“Google Play Protect enforcement has been set to block installation attempts of these identified malicious apps,” Google said in its statement. “Users that have malicious versions of the app downloaded to their devices are warned and prompted to uninstall the app.”

It was unclear if there are similar security concerns around the Pinduoduo app for Apple users, and Pinduoduo was still available to download from Apple’s iOS store today.

PDD Holdings Inc, which operates Pinduoduo, did not immediately comment. Hong Kong traded shares in the company tumbled 14.2% today.

SHARE TWEET PIN