User finds her sensitive data accessed 92,000 times in 30 days
Or why it might be not such good idea to switch to Red Note
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A lot of American TikTok users have switched to Red Note, but when you read this article, then you might maybe a little bit more careful before you share any important data over Red Note.
User finds her sensitive data accessed 92,000 times in 30 days
Concerns have surfaced regarding the privacy practices of the popular Chinese social platform “Xiaohongshu,” which has seen a rising number of users engaging with content related to beauty, travel, food, and lifestyle.
According to the Chinese media outlet “Jiu Pai News,” a Xiaohongshu user employing an Android device was astonished to discover that over the past 30 days, the platform had accessed sensitive data over 92,000 times, with an alarming 71,000 instances involving location information. On a single day, 25th March, Xiaohongshu accessed the user’s location data over 2,100 times, even during periods of inactivity, including late-night hours when the app was not actively in use.
Another user shared a similar experience, noting that Xiaohongshu accessed nearly 50,000 pieces of data within 30 days, with location data accounting for 46,000 instances. In a striking revelation, the app engaged in a series of continuous activities within a minute, including 15 device status checks, 7 photo and video accesses, 7 audio file scans, and one clipboard view. These data patterns not only shed light on the platform’s frequent background operations but also raise significant concerns among users regarding potential misuse of personal information.
It is noteworthy that such background activities by Xiaohongshu are not recent discoveries. Discussions on this issue date back to July 2024, with numerous users expressing their concerns on social media platforms, with post volumes exceeding 70,000 at one point. Many iOS users reported that even with the app closed, a blue location icon would remain active on the screen’s top portion, indicating ongoing access to location data.
In response to these allegations, “Jiu Pai News” reached out to Xiaohongshu’s official customer service for clarification. The service team attributed these actions to the platform’s “Nearby” feature, which necessitates periodic access to location data when related permissions are enabled. They emphasized that the platform does not compromise user privacy. However, this explanation has not entirely allayed user concerns. Many users expect apps to access location data only during active use, finding the extensive data retrieval during inactive periods challenging to accept. Recommendations include adjusting Xiaohongshu’s permission settings to “Ask When in Use” or complete deactivation for sensitive permissions in response to abnormal activities.
Source: Dimsum Daily
https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/xiaohongshu-reports-92000-data-accesses-in-30-days-71000-location-instances-privacy-concerns-emerge/
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