Concerns are growing in Japan about the safety of personal information shared via Chinese health apps.
As more people in Japan, particularly the elderly, use health apps to track their fitness, sleep, and overall well-being, experts warn that sensitive data, such as medical history and genetic information, may be leaked to China.
According to a report by Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun, health apps are becoming increasingly popular in Japan, with nearly half of all smartphone users relying on them.
However, these apps are raising concerns due to the possibility of personal information being shared with Chinese authorities.
Under China's National Security Law, companies operating in the country are required to assist with intelligence gathering, which means that app companies cannot refuse data requests from the government or military.
High-risk data includes genetic information, sleep patterns, exercise routines, and medical history.
According to Duke University, some companies have been caught selling this information via brokers, with records ranging from mental health data to financial data such as credit histories.
One major concern is that China is actively gathering genetic information from foreign populations, which is critical for the development of new drugs and treatments.
China's population is 90% Han Chinese, so gathering genetic data from other ethnic groups around the world provides them with the diverse information they need to innovate in the biomedical sector.
China is rapidly increasing its presence in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.
It is estimated that China has invested billions of dollars in genome editing and bio-research.
This has enabled China to become a global leader in producing critical drugs such as antibiotics and cancer treatments.
A Japanese government official warned that China's advances in bio-research could jeopardize the competitive advantage that the United States, Japan, and Europe have long enjoyed in drug development.
More concerning is the fear that collected genome data could be used for military purposes, potentially creating viruses targeting specific ethnic groups.
The rise of China in biotechnology may have far-reaching consequences. Experts fear that advanced countries will lose their pharmaceutical market dominance, with China dictating the future of medicine and public health.
Given the power of genome data, it could even be used for coercion in international politics and economic security.
These concerns have prompted the United States to impose stricter regulations on the export of genetic information.
With new biosecurity legislation being considered that would treat Chinese biotech firms as extensions of the Communist Party's intelligence agencies.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun concluded that we are entering an era in which economic and national security are inextricably linked.
The country with the most diverse and extensive genome data will wield significant power in determining the future of global health and security.