Alibaba's browser removed from Chinese Android app stores

BEIJING (Reuters): Chinese app stores have removed Alibaba Group's UC Browser for mobiles, after it was criticised on Chinese state television's annual consumer rights show for including medical ads by unqualified companies.

China has been tightening regulation of its vast internet sector, with the Alibaba e-commerce empire founded by billionaire Jack Ma facing especially heavy scrutiny.

UC Browser could not be downloaded on Android app stores operated by major Chinese phone makers Huawei, Xiaomi Corp and Vivo as of Tuesday (March 16) evening. It was still available on Apple Inc's Chinese app store.

UC Browser was among several Chinese and foreign companies targeted for criticism for a range of issues on China Central Television's popular two-hour prime time "315" show on Monday night.

UC Browser, which says it has more than 400 million monthly active users globally, issued an apology after the show and said it had begun an investigation and initiated corrective measures.

On Tuesday, Alibaba referred to the UC statement in response to a request for comment on UC's removal by app stores.

"We will further strengthen the supervision mechanism and sense of responsibility of the platform, and provide users with high-quality information services with more stringent standards. We urge users to continue to supervise us," UC said on Monday.

Huawei did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Xiaomi and Vivo declined to comment.

Apps in China have been temporarily removed from apps stores in the past, with existing users unaffected.

Internet platforms were a subject of discussion at a meeting on Monday chaired by President Xi Jinping of ruling Communist Party leaders in charge of financial and economic affairs.

"Some platform enterprises are developing in an irregular manner and bear risks; the platform economy is not fully developed and has shortcomings, and we have a prominent problem of the regulatory system not adjusting to this issue," a readout of the meeting by the official Xinhua news agency said.

A Chinese ministry also asked major app stores on Tuesday to remove four apps named in the CCTV show for misleading users into downloading and collecting excessive private information.