Reacting to media reports of leaking mobile data of its Indian users to China, the Alibaba-owned browser UCWeb on Wednesday said it would never breach the trust of its users.
UCWeb said it takes security and privacy issues very seriously.
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According to reports:
- The government was looking into allegations that Alibaba’s UC Browser leaked mobile data of its Indian users.
- It was also reported that if found guilty, UCWeb might be banned in the country.
- UCWeb has also been accused of sending data including device’s IMEI number.
- In addition,location data to a server in China on connecting to a WiFi network.
- The allegation have re-surfaced at a time when tension escalated in June between India and China over the Doklam standoff .
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UCWeb said:
- UCWeb also claimed that they had not received any notice or intimation from the government regarding this enquiry.
- However, UCWeb said that it was a standard industry practice to collect user information.
- And data in necessary scenarios to provide users with localised services.
- It is common practice for IT companies to place servers all around the globe to provide better service to its users.
- We have strong measures in place to encrypt the data while we transmit it,UCWeb told.
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- The allegations first surfaced in May when a Canadian technology research group CItizen Lab reported UCWeb easily makes available sensitive information.
- Like location, search details, mobile subscriber and device numbers to third parties.
- We take necessary authorisation from users to collect this data.
- Our systems are protected by an end-user licensing agreement which protect the interest of our users,the group said.
- UCWeb’s flagship product UC Browser has over 50 per cent market share in India and Indonesia, ahead of Google Chrome and Opera.
- UC Browser is also the sixth most downloaded application on Android platform in India with over 100 million monthly active users.