Beijing courts rules WeChat chat records inadmissible without employee consent

Beijing courts have ruled that WeChat chat records obtained without the employee’s consent are inadmissible as evidence in legal proceedings. The ruling comes amid concerns about the privacy of online communications and the use of personal data in legal cases. 

Companies operating in China should ensure that they have proper procedures for obtaining and using online chat records and should seek legal advice if they need clarification on the legality of their actions. They also may need to review their policies around using WeChat for work-related communications and be aware of the legal framework around using online chat records and taking steps to ensure that they are obtaining and using such forms in a legally compliant manner.