Pinduoduo app barred on Google Play Store over security concerns

Photo credit: CFP

Malware detected in versions of Pinduoduo’s app found outside Play Store spurred Google to suspend the Chinese ecommerce firm, Bloomberg reported.

“Google Play Protect enforcement has been set to block installation attempts of these identified malicious apps. Users that have malicious versions of the app downloaded to their devices are warned and prompted to uninstall the app,” a Google spokesperson told Bloomberg.

The suspension comes after several Chinese security specialists called out Pinduoduo for allegedly developing Android apps with malware aimed at tracking users.

That said, Google Play is not accessible to users in China. The allegedly malicious apps were also found in the custom app stores of Android phonemakers such as Huawei, Oppo, Samsung, and Xiaomi.

It’s unclear how long Pinduoduo’s app will be barred from Google Play Store.

In a statement to Tech in Asia, a Pinduoduo spokesperson said  the company “strongly rejects the speculation and accusation that Pinduoduo app is malicious just from a generic and non-conclusive response from Google.”

“There are several apps that have been suspended from Google Play at the same time, and we find it peculiar that Tech in Asia chose to single out Pinduoduo,” the person added.

Nasdaq-listed PDD recently reported promising quarterly results. It posted US$5.8 billion in revenue for Q4 of financial year 2022, up 46% from the previous year.

Apart from Pinduoduo, PDD also owns and operates Temu, an online marketplace that has been gaining ground overseas as a rival to ultra-fast fashion firm Shein.

See also: Why SEA should watch out for Shein’s top rival Temu

Update (March 21, 7:43 p.m. SGT): This article was updated to include a statement from Pinduoduo.