Beware of the ill effects of digital hongbao
Updated: 2015-11-14 08:12
By Li Fangchao(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
A user logs on to the WeChat service on a smartphone in Boao, Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Mobile payment technology has indeed made life convenient for people, but it has also given the country's anti-corruption watchdog a headache. For example, anti-corruption agencies fear WeChat hongbao (red envelope), or the small amounts of lucky money people send through the Internet service portal of Tencent Inc, could have opened another door for officials to take bribes.
The service is an online extension of the traditional gifting of hongbao to relatives and friends during Spring Festival. By simply linking a debit card with your WeChat account, you can send a digital hongbao to any relative or friend in your contact group.
The service became a huge hit during Spring Festival in February this year with millions of people frantically tapping on their mobile phone screens to send small amounts of money to their relatives and friends.
Anti-corruption officials point out that, thanks to this new digital payment technology, people can now send money to officials through cell phones instead of carrying large bags of gifts and knocking on officials' doors. In fact, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country's top anti-corruption watchdog, has repeatedly warned officials to not fall in the corruption trap by accepting red envelopes or other types of gifts through the Internet.
Expectedly, the authorities' warnings triggered heated online discussions, with some saying it would be stupid of people to bribe officials through digital red envelope because the 200-yuan ($31) cap on such transfers and the daily transfer limit of 8,000 yuan would force a person to spend nearly two weeks to transfer 100,000 yuan.
Of course, 200 yuan is not a "decent bribe" for even the lowest-level officials, and nobody would be expected to send a large amount to an official through hundreds of hongbao.
The problem, however, is that such money can also be given on occasions other than Spring Festival. So people with vested interests can invite officials to a WeChat group to play a game of grabbing the hongbao on the pretext of celebrating a festival and transfer the desired amount of money to them.
- Digital hongbao business booms
- 红包大战 (hongbao dazhan): Battle of the red envelopes
- A time for silence and for hongbao
- Hongbao places financial burden on New Year celebrations
- Adults under strain as hongbao grow fatter
- NE China opens Wechat account for better services
- First festival for WeChat users in Zhangjiagang
- Don't simply equate WeChat trade with pyramid selling
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |