Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi / Bloomberg
Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi / Bloomberg
Alibaba’s UC browser disappeared from China’s largest app stores after state-owned broadcaster CCTV attacked the popular mobile browser along with other services for struggling consumers.
Government-run China Central Television has included the app among several brands it accused of disrespecting consumer rights in its annual name and shame program on March 15, World Consumer Rights Day. Application stores run by Huawei Technologies Co. and Xiaomi Corp. was among the local app stores that have since withdrawn the app, although Apple Inc. continues to offer UCWeb to iOS users.
The browser was among a plethora of consumer products announced on Monday. 360 Security Technology Inc. shares crashed in Shanghai after CCTV reported that the ads on its research product contained false medical information, while the broadcaster also chased everything from Infiniti customer service owned by Nissan Motor Co. for face recognition software failures.
But the report came at a sensitive time for Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., which fights to intensify government scrutiny of its growing influence in the spheres of the internet and the media, with uncertain results. Like the 360, it was accused of running fake ads.
The Alibaba unit apologized in a statement for its “problems”, as is the custom of the companies named on the day. He pledged to form a dedicated team to examine the allegations. “We will take further steps to strengthen our review procedures and impose more stringent standards,” said the company in its statement.
The removal of the UC browser was first reported by the Financial Times.
– With the help of Coco Liu and Yuan Gao