News Analysis WeChat “allow[s] the Chinese Communist party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information” said then-President Donald Trump, explaining why he signed an executive order, banning the Chinese app. WeChat (微信; Wēixìn), developed in 2011 by Tencent, is a multi-purpose social media app that has instant messaging, ride hailing, and mobile payment functions. With more than 1 billion monthly active users, it is arguably the largest app in the world. WeChat can do many things, including photo and location sharing, hold-to-talk voice messaging, video conferencing, video games, group chat meetings. Under China’s Cybersecurity Law, Beijing has the right to demand, from any person or entity in China, any and all information that the regime feels has implications for Chinese security. Additionally, authorities can seize this data or information without notifying the user. A separate law, China’s National Intelligence Law, obligates Chinese and, in some cases, foreign citizens, entities, companies, …