The Chinese government doesn’t manage such data. WeChat is owned by Tencent so Tencent would be asked. How do you think a private business would concern itself with such a request? They would comply but China is not Tencent nor is Tencent China.
AFAIK it’s policy in China that their companies operating abroad should respect the local laws of those foreign countries. So if the US requested data on users, which is perfectly legal and doesn’t even need to be disclosed, Tencent would probably comply and the CPC would at least not pressure a company to break the law.
Also, it would be smart to avoid coordinating illegal activity over apps of any kind, encrypted or not, and opt for in-person options.
At that point, I’d still recommend something like cryptographed digital radio/mesh networks over internet-based messaging for most illicit organisation unless the infrastructure itself is held by the movement. Internet is too easy to disrupt, and smartphones are a security nightmare. Organising under the conditions of legality through apps is more okay, though.
I understand that is what the law says and that China tells companies operating abroad to steadfastly follow local laws, but I think/hope that China would force Tencent to say no, or at the very least, delay and interrupt the process as much as possible, and wax poetic about how Amerikkka should be able to do this without Tencent’s direct help, and how Amerikkka’s demons have finally caught up to it.
The Chinese government doesn’t manage such data. WeChat is owned by Tencent so Tencent would be asked. How do you think a private business would concern itself with such a request? They would comply but China is not Tencent nor is Tencent China.
I don’t think Tencent would do it. While Tencent isn’t the CPC, no doubt that CPC would encourage Tencent to say no.
AFAIK it’s policy in China that their companies operating abroad should respect the local laws of those foreign countries. So if the US requested data on users, which is perfectly legal and doesn’t even need to be disclosed, Tencent would probably comply and the CPC would at least not pressure a company to break the law.
Also, it would be smart to avoid coordinating illegal activity over apps of any kind, encrypted or not, and opt for in-person options.
But when the movement reaches such critical mass, forms of electronic communication will be necessary.
At that point, I’d still recommend something like cryptographed digital radio/mesh networks over internet-based messaging for most illicit organisation unless the infrastructure itself is held by the movement. Internet is too easy to disrupt, and smartphones are a security nightmare. Organising under the conditions of legality through apps is more okay, though.
I understand that is what the law says and that China tells companies operating abroad to steadfastly follow local laws, but I think/hope that China would force Tencent to say no, or at the very least, delay and interrupt the process as much as possible, and wax poetic about how Amerikkka should be able to do this without Tencent’s direct help, and how Amerikkka’s demons have finally caught up to it.