

Install skype for iphone in china full#
The full text chat messages of TOM-Skype users, along with Skype users who have communicated with TOM-Skype users, are regularly scanned for sensitive keywords, and if present, the resulting data are uploaded and stored on servers in China.In 2008, Information Warfare Monitor and ONI Asia published An analysis of surveillance and security practices on China’s TOM-Skype platform. In this case, Skype and Microsoft fail the people that trust them. Skype and Microsoft, being foreign brands, are often perceived to be more trustworthy when it comes to privacy. This of course also applies to other services based in China such as Sina Weibo and Tencent WeChat (微信). We can assume that all communication data - including both text and voice - passing through Tom's servers is saved and made available to authorities upon request. If the authorities make a request for communication data for a given user they have to comply. Tom Online is a Chinese company operating under local laws and regulation.

Skype's claim that "this is an automated process and operates solely on text chats" is unlikely to be true. Voice communications is not a part of this process.įrom Appendix XI: Letter from Human Rights Watch to Skype and Skype's response. This is an automated process and operates solely on text chats. If a message is found to be unsuitable for delivery because of specific text, the message is simply not transmitted between the users. To comply with the government regulation, TOM Online is obliged to use a text filter in TOM-Skype.
Install skype for iphone in china software#
The JV offers a co-branded version of the Skype software called TOM-Skype.

In China, we have a joint venture with TOM Online in which TOM is the majority shareholder. Skype works hard to comply with all applicable local laws and regulations in countries where we do business. For example, Human Rights Watch got the following response from Skype in 2006, when inquiring about their partnership with Tom: The fact that Skype is collaborating with Tom Online and operating under "local laws and regulation" for the China market has been known for years. Known for years - yet most Skype users are unaware Skype will provide reasonable assistance and information to fulfill this request and you hereby consent to such disclosure.įrom the SKYPE PRIVACY POLICY. Skype, Skype's local partner, or the operator or company facilitating your communication may provide personal data, communications content and/or traffic data to an appropriate judicial, law enforcement or government authority lawfully requesting such information. Microsoft, however, assumes that you do consent, as expressed in their Privacy Policy: And if you are aware, chances are that you do not consent to such surveillence. Having said that, you are probably not aware that all your phone calls and text chats can be monitored by the censorship authorities in China. If you have friends, family or business contacts abroad, chances are you are using Skype to keep in contact. With 250 million monthly connected users, Skype is one of the most popular services for making phone calls as well as chatting over the Internet.
