MPs instructed to remove four Chinese apps from parliamentary devices

The Parliamentary Service Commission has instructed MPs to remove four Chinese apps from any device connected to the parliamentary network.

However, the ban does not extend to the apps used on MPs' personal devices that are not connected to the network.

DeepSeek, a Chinese startup that launched a ChatGPT-style artificial intelligence model in January, was banned on 20 February.

Four days later, popular Chinese social media platforms WeChat and RedNote were banned alongside CapCut, a short-video editing app developed by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.

Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said the commission made the decision after considering a range of perspectives.

"The decision was taken following discussions with our partners across New Zealand government and internationally," Gonzalez-Montero said.

"Based on this information, and our cybersecurity analysis, the Parliamentary Service Commission determined that the risks [posed by these applications] are not acceptable in the current New Zealand parliamentary environment."

National MP Carlos Cheung, a WeChat user, said the ban did not affect him as he only downloaded apps on a personal device before using them on a private network.

"There are a lot of apps I try to avoid using on the parliamentary phone because we understand that devices can sometimes access certain security areas," he said. "As a member of Parliament, cybersecurity is one of the things we look into."

Cheung said the ban was an effective measure to mitigate potential security risks.

"All these new programs, apps and technology coming up, there is always a potential risk," he said.

"Sometimes it's very hard for us to follow up with every application or program to ensure our safety," he said. "We don't want to have any information leaking out and harming our country."

National MP Nancy Lu used WeChat and RedNote to engage with the Chinese community in New Zealand.

Lu said she also accessed the apps on her personal device, noting that she would continue to communicate with the community on suitable platforms while adhering to parliamentary rules.

"I recognize that this latest update has raised concerns within the community," she said.

"However, I want to assure everyone that I remain dedicated to maintaining open lines of communication and connection with all community members."

Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan held a different view, expressing concern the ban had more to do with politics than question marks over technology.

"The government must take a balanced approach when we are making these decisions - one based on data, not politicization," Xu-Nan said.

"US applications such as Meta and Twitter [now X] should also face the same level of scrutiny in Aotearoa as Chinese platforms."

Xu-Nan said any ban on foreign applications in New Zealand should not restrict their practicality as a communication tool.

"We need to take a balanced approach to foreign technologies and ensure we are not limiting communication," he said.

"WeChat is one of the apps that Chinese communities use most frequently, it's the best way for us to hear from our communities."

When asked whether the ban on the four Chinese apps was a temporary or permanent measure, Gonzalez-Montero said all applications were reviewed regularly to ensure they comply with Parliamentary Service security and privacy standards.

He also confirmed that ChatGPT has not been blocked on devices connected to the parliamentary network.

He added that MPs with concerns about the ban on foreign technologies should raise them with their representative at the Parliamentary Service Commission.

This isn't the first time overseas software has been banned in Parliament.

In March 2023, MPs were asked to remove TikTok from all devices connected to the parliamentary network.

Gonzalez-Montero said the ban remained in place.

Beyond New Zealand, other countries had also restricted the popular app.

Most notably, India banned TikTok in 2020 over security concerns following a border clash with China. The ban was made permanent in January 2021.

Some Western nations have raised concern the Chinese government can access sensitive user data through apps such as TikTok.

However, TikTok has denied that data or algorithms can be accessed or manipulated by Chinese authorities.