Tencent protects users’ virtual property by suing red envelope snatching app

Virtual red envelope (hongbao in Chinese) exchange is growing into a form of social custom in China inspired by the penetration of WeChat use. However, the arrival of lucky money snatching apps, which allow users to snatch random amounts of money from group chats without opening the app, violate the rule that requires users to physically tap a hongbao to receive a share. Such action is often fired by the co-work between monitor and sensor system of the chat log embedded in apps, which poses threats to users’ privacy. According to Technode, if Tencent wins the case, it will set precedents for other tech companies to take legal action against virtual property infringement.