Canada claimed that government data had not been hacked despite banning the Chinese messaging app WeChat and the Russian antivirus software Kaspersky from government-issued mobile devices on Monday owing to privacy and security concerns.
According to an assessment by Canada’s chief information officer, WeChat, a product of Tencent (0700. HK), and apps made by Moscow-based Kaspersky “present an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.” The Treasury Board of Canada, which is in charge of public administration, announced this in a statement.
China’s foreign ministry said that the Canadian government had imposed an unfounded restriction on Chinese businesses under the pretense of preserving data security, a common oversimplification of national security.
It claimed that the prohibition unjustly inhibits the conduct of businesses in particular nations and abuses national power.
At a routine news briefing on Tuesday, spokesman Wang Wenbin stated, “We hope that the Canadian side will discard ideological prejudices, abide by the principles of market economy and provide a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.”
Kaspersky expressed surprise and disappointment at the decision, saying it came as a surprise and that the company was not given a chance to respond to the government’s concerns.
The company said in a statement, “There has been no evidence or due process to otherwise justify these actions. They are highly unsupported and a response to the geopolitical climate rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky’s products and services.”
WeChat did not answer a request for a comment right away. The Treasury Board stated that while there is no proof that government data has been hacked, the programs’ methods of collecting data grant significant access to a device’s contents, and the risks associated with using them are “clear.”
“The decision to remove and block the WeChat and Kaspersky applications was made to ensure that government of Canada networks and data remain secure and protected and are in line with the approach of our international partners,” stated a statement.
The government-provided mobile devices will have the apps removed on Monday, and users won’t be able to download them in the future.
Due to comparable privacy and security concerns, Canada prohibited TikTok, the short-video app owned by the Chinese business Bytedance, from using government-issued smartphones in February.
