Ministry of Digital Affairs Tests 4 Chinese Apps; Amap Shows Most Risk Items
The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) announced that tests on four Chinese apps—Amap, Bilibili, iQIYI, and BIMOBIMO—revealed risks including real-time behavior monitoring, system information extraction, and data transmission. Amap was found to have the highest number of risk items.
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- 📰 Published: May 27, 2026 at 13:37
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Central News Agency, Taipei, May 27. The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) announced today that tests revealed four Chinese mobile applications—Amap (Gaode Maps), Bilibili, iQIYI, and BIMOBIMO—all contain risks such as real-time behavior monitoring, system information extraction, and data transmission and sharing. Among them, Amap had the highest number of risk items, with 11 on the Android operating system and 8 on iOS.
MODA held a press conference today to explain the risks of these four apps and provided three major cybersecurity principles to remind the public to stay alert and protect their digital security. Li Yu-wei, director of the Cyber Security Administration under MODA, explained that under China's Cybersecurity Law and National Intelligence Law, companies can be required to provide user data to national security, public security, and intelligence departments. The tests found that all four Chinese apps transmit data to servers within China, allowing data to be continuously uploaded without the user's knowledge. Furthermore, because these developers are subject to Chinese law, user information faces a high risk of being forcibly accessed by the Chinese government.
In the 15 items tested, Amap's Android version showed 11 risks, including continuous tracking of location, access to the clipboard, video/audio, microphone, contacts, calendar, health records, storage, device identifiers, and data transmission to servers in China. Li pointed out that Amap requests sensitive permissions unrelated to its core functions, which may involve excessive data collection. Regarding Bilibili, iQIYI, and BIMOBIMO, Li stated that they also request sensitive permissions, which could lead to the long-term storage and reuse of personal data abroad, potentially being used by criminal groups for new types of fraud.
MODA held a press conference today to explain the risks of these four apps and provided three major cybersecurity principles to remind the public to stay alert and protect their digital security. Li Yu-wei, director of the Cyber Security Administration under MODA, explained that under China's Cybersecurity Law and National Intelligence Law, companies can be required to provide user data to national security, public security, and intelligence departments. The tests found that all four Chinese apps transmit data to servers within China, allowing data to be continuously uploaded without the user's knowledge. Furthermore, because these developers are subject to Chinese law, user information faces a high risk of being forcibly accessed by the Chinese government.
In the 15 items tested, Amap's Android version showed 11 risks, including continuous tracking of location, access to the clipboard, video/audio, microphone, contacts, calendar, health records, storage, device identifiers, and data transmission to servers in China. Li pointed out that Amap requests sensitive permissions unrelated to its core functions, which may involve excessive data collection. Regarding Bilibili, iQIYI, and BIMOBIMO, Li stated that they also request sensitive permissions, which could lead to the long-term storage and reuse of personal data abroad, potentially being used by criminal groups for new types of fraud.
FAQ
Why are Chinese apps scrutinized in Taiwan?
Due to China's National Intelligence Law, which may force companies to provide user data to the government.