Google has suspended the Chinese shopping platform Pinduoduo on its app store after malware was discovered in versions of the app from other sources. Google said it suspended the Pinduoduo app on the Google Play store out of “security concerns” and that it was investigating.
The suspension of the app comes amid heightened tensions over Chinese-owned apps such as TikTok, which some US legislators say could be a national security threat. They allege that such apps could be used to spy on American users.
Pinduoduo is a popular e-commerce app in China which often offers discounts if users team up to buy multiples of an item. Many Chinese online shopping platforms offer downloads of the app.