Tencent’s WeChat Social Media Posts Count as Criminal Evidence
- All social content can be secretly gained and used in court
- Data can be reviewed if content is linked to criminal cases
China Reins in Social Media Posts
Chinese law enforcement agencies can now secretly request access to personal information posted on social media services such as Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s WeChat, as the country shores up its ability to rein in online discourse and monitor public opinion.
Starting Oct.1, authorities investigating criminal cases have the right to ask for information posted on social media including WeChat and Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, according to regulations published on Sept. 21. They can then submit the data as evidence in court, the regulations read. But the process of collecting the information must be kept secret to prevent the leakage of national, business or personal data, according to rules drafted by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security.