MPs appear divided on continuing to use WeChat to communicate with constituents after a warning from House administration staff about potential “cybersecurity risks” associated with the Chinese app.

All MPs and their staff were sent an email from the House of Commons’ cyber security team last week recommending that they refrain from using the social media and e-commerce app, which has close to 1.1 billion monthly active users, “for business—or otherwise sensitive—communications.”

Kori Ghergari, a spokesperson for the House of Commons, told iPolitics the email was sent as a “preventative measure.”

The House’s cyber security team said that since WeChat doesn’t use encryption, messages sent on the app are vulnerable to interception. They further warned that because the app’s servers are located outside of Canada that they’re not subject to Canadian privacy laws.

“Rigorous protections of user data cannot be assured,” the email said.

READ MORE: MPs, staff warned not to use Chinese app WeChat due to ‘cybersecurity risks’

iPolitics reached out multiple times to the offices of all of the MPs in ridings where the Chinese population makes up at least 30 per cent (according to the 2016 census) of the riding’s total community, asking about their past WeChat use and whether or not they plan to continue to use the app.

Liberal MP Jean Yip, whose riding of Scarborough—Agincourt is made up of 45 per cent of people of Chinese background, said she uses WeChat to communicate with her constituents.

“I use WeChat, along with other social media, to let constituents know of our upcoming community events, services our office offers, and most importantly, to keep my constituents informed about my work as an MP,” Yip said in an email.

She said she’ll continue to use the app, though she’ll “refrain from posting sensitive or personal information” on the platform.

Conservative MP Alice Wong, who represents Richmond Centre, where 59 per cent of the community is Chinese, will also continue using WeChat to communicate with constituents, Sacha Peter, the manager of Wong’s office, told iPolitics in an email.

“We concur that the cyber security alert provided on the July 4, 2019 House of Commons bulletin is an excellent reminder to not conduct sensitive business on that platform. We would advise all other MP offices follow the same policies, no matter which public messaging platforms are being used,” Peter said.

Liberal MP Geng Tan declined the opportunity to answer questions about his use of the app.

Conservative MP Bob Saroya hasn’t used the app since the security notice was issued, according to his executive assistant Sam Manougian.

The MP, who represents the riding of Markham–Unionville, which has a 65 per cent Chinese population, is “most likely not” going to use it again, Manougian said.

Saroya and his office has used WeChat in the past “to let (Chinese constituents) know of upcoming events in the riding of interest to them,” Manougian said in an email.

He said they never shared information on WeChat that they wouldn’t otherwise share publicly.

“Security including cybersecurity is always our greatest concern and our office takes all measures required to ensure the safety of the information,” Manougian said.

Liberal MP for Vancouver South Harjit Sajjan does not use WeChat, his press secretary Todd Lane said.

Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, who represents Vancouver Granville, also does not use WeChat, she told iPolitics in an email.

iPolitics did not receive direct responses from Liberal MPs Shaun Chen, Mary Ng, Joe Peschisolido and Majid Jowhari, and NDP MPs Jagmeet Singh and Don Davies – all of whom represent ridings with large Chinese populations – about their use of WeChat.

Liberal Party communications director Braeden Caley said he wouldn’t comment directly on the party’s security measures, but that it “takes these considerations very seriously.”

At the time of publication, iPolitics had not heard back from the NDP or the Conservatives about their party’s WeChat policies.

Some of Canada’s closest international allies have raised concerns about Chinese tech companies – namely Chinese superpower Huawei – because of a Chinese law passed in 2017 that allows its government to demand businesses to carry out intelligence activities on its behalf.

Asked about the cybersecurity warning sent to MPs last week, the Chinese Embassy said that “China has stipulated many regulations on data security and privacy protection, and the legitimate rights and interests of users and organizations are effectively guaranteed.”

“We hope the Canadian side would discuss the related issues on the basis of science and facts instead of distortion or discrimination,” the embassy said in an email.

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