Two of China’s very popular mobile apps, Tencent’s WeChat and Ant’s Alipay have blocked the light-version app of Didi Global Inc’s ride hailing services in China for new users, said a source familiar with the matter at hand.
Didi’s service continues to be available to users who have used them on the platforms earlier, said the source on the condition of anomynity.
The light-version platforms, also known as mini programs, are smaller than common mobile apps and exist inside a super, or multifunction app, such as Wechat or Alipay.
Incidentally Didi also operates a standalone app.
China’s cyberspace regulator has ordered app stores to remove Didi’s app and has forced Didi to stop new user registrations saying the company illegally collected user data.
Neither Didi, nor Ant or Tencent immediately responded to requests for comments.