From Radio Free Asia:
China's largest automaker has launched a car that can teach its occupants the ideology of ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping.
SAIC Motor and Banma's AI subsidiary Banma Zhixing installed a version of Alibaba's Xuexi Qiangguo app, which teaches Xi Jinping Thought to users, on SAIC's Roewe RX5 PLUS SUV, to mark the forthcoming CCP centenary on July 1.
The app, which is being aggressively promoted by the CCP as a tool for ideological education across China, will offer RX5 PLUS drivers "one-click access" to Xi Jinping Thought.
An employee who answered the phone at Banma Zhixing, which is closely involved in China's plan to build an "Internet of vehicles," confirmed the car was now available.
"Yes, we can use the Xuexi Qiangguo app in a car now," the employee said. "Right now, only the RX5 PLUS can have this upgrade, which isn't being offered in other models just yet."
"You can open the app by clicking on the Xuexi Qiangguo icon, or by saying 'Hello Banma, I want to listen to Xuexi Qiangguo'," the employee said.
France-based commentator Wang Longmen said the Xuexi Qiangguo app is known to collect information about its users.
"This app, Xuexi Qiangguo, was discovered a while back to be collecting citizens' data," Wang said. "This means that if you install the app in your car, the authorities will be able to track your whereabouts."
A recent investigation by the Open Technology Fund (OTF) and security researchers at Cure53 into the app found that it contains code "resembling a backdoor" which is able to run arbitrary commands on Android devices with superuser privileges....
....MUCH MORE
"China to require patriotism education for intellectuals " (and the rise of "Xi thought")
"The Little Red Book vs. the Big White Book (Mao v. Xi)"
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